A prominent civil society organization has accused the Abia State House of Assembly of “legislative abdication” and a “serious breach of parliamentary ethics” after its members reportedly traveled abroad instead of proceeding with a publicly declared solidarity protest for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) Nigeria issued a statement expressing “grave concern” over the development, calling the lawmakers’ unexplained absence “troubling and unprecedented.”
The controversy began earlier this month when the Abia State House of Assembly passed a resolution in plenary, publicly declaring its intention to travel to Abuja to protest and demand the release of the detained IPOB leader.
However, FENRAD stated that instead of fulfilling this public commitment, the entire legislature has “reportedly travelled abroad under unclear and unexplained circumstances.”
“It is both troubling and unprecedented that a full complement of a sub-national legislature would vacate its seat of authority and relocate outside the country during an active legislative period without any formal communication to the people of Abia State,” the rights group said.
FENRAD noted the absence of any official public notice, stating, “There is no record of a House resolution announcing a recess, nor any public notice informing constituents of a suspension of the protest earlier resolved in plenary.”
The group condemned the “abrupt international travel” and the “perceived abandonment of legislative responsibilities” as actions that “undermine the sanctity of democratic governance and the rule of law in the state.”
The lawmakers’ absence is particularly notable as other activists and groups have converged on Abuja for protests demanding Kanu’s release, facing tear gas and security crackdowns.
FENRAD has issued a set of demands, calling for immediate transparency from the Assembly’s leadership. The group demands, A formal statement from the leadership explaining the status of the Nnamdi Kanu protest they resolved to undertake and the reasons for its “apparent cancellation or abandonment.”
A declaration from the Speaker and the Clerk of the House on whether the Assembly is officially in recess and under what constitutional provisions, an investigation by oversight bodies into the “use of public funds for this unexplained overseas trip and a pledge from the legislature to uphold democratic accountability and transparency.
“The Foundation views this as a serious breach of parliamentary ethics and a dereliction of duty,” the statement continued. “FENRAD calls on all elected officials to remember that public office is a public trust… Legislators must, at all times, be seen to serve the interest of the people who elected them not abandon their duties for unexplained overseas engagements.”
