By PETER ANOSIKE

A prominent son of Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia state, Mazi Nnamdi Uzor, has alleged that the governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti is engaging in high handedness in trying to solve the problems in Abia Arise political platform.

Abia Arise is the political platform of Dr. Alex Otti in Abia State.

Speaking on the crisis, Uzor said that the mandate from the governor that a case in a court of competent jurisdiction be withdrawn before truce could be reached among the warring factions in the platform, is not only dictatorial, but is also a gross abuse of democratic principles.

According to him, in every functioning democracy, the separation of powers, due process, and rule of law are foundational pillars that guide both action and restraint in public governance.

He said that any deviation from these core principles risks undermining public trust and triggering unintended legal and political consequences.

Speaking further, he alleged that governor Otti's intervention in the ongoing legal and governance crisis in the Umunneochi Local Government Area raises serious constitutional and procedural concerns.

He said that the three arms of government are meant to work hand in hand and as such, none should claim superiority over the other.

His words: “Following a high-level meeting on Monday, June 9, 2025, the Governor issued a series of directives now in public domain and being referred to as “matching orders” to various political actors and public officials. Among these was a 72-hour ultimatum compelling parties to withdraw court cases and ICPC investigations or face what was described as “the maximum wrath of the authority is not democratic.”

According to him, the development represents an apparent misstep in constitutional governance and a potential breach of due process and judicial independence.

He said that directing citizens, including elected officials to withdraw pending legal matters or ICPC petitions is constitutionally impermissible.

According to him, sections 6 and 36 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantee access to courts and legal redress as a fundamental right, adding that any order that seeks to override this right, whether by threat or directive violates the constitutional protections afforded to all citizens.

“More troubling is the implication that such withdrawal must include matters before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), a federal statutory agency. The Governor lacks jurisdiction over ICPC investigations, and any attempt to influence or interfere in those processes amounts to an encroachment on federal authority and may be interpreted as obstruction of justice,” he said

On the concerns about legislative role misapplication, Uzor said that instructing the Member representing Umunneochi State Constituency, Hon. Ume Mathias Nwachi, to enforce the Governor’s directives introduces an additional layer of concern.

He said that by assigning the implementation of an executive directive to a lawmaker, the Governor’s action blurs the boundaries between the executive and legislative arms of government.

His words: “Of particular concern is the content of Hon. Nwachi’s letter to Councillor Hon. Ibe Friday, in which the Councillor is told to withdraw his court case within 72 hours or face unspecified consequences. This kind of communication, while perhaps well-intended, reflects a misapprehension of the limits of legislative responsibility and risks undermining confidence in democratic institutions. It is deeply important for elected lawmakers to remain above the fray of executive enforcement and act as custodians of democratic checks and balances. The tone and substance of Hon. Nwachi’s letter suggest a lack of clarity regarding legal and judicial processes and call for urgent internal reflection within the Assembly to re-establish adherence to lawful procedure.”

Mazi Uzor said that by directing bypassing of the courts, and dismissing pending investigations and also instructing the reassertion of authority under threat of consequence, it is believed that the governor has inadvertently escalated a local political matter into a state-wide legal and institutional concern.

According to him, the governor’s action raises the following constitutional and political red flags such as encroachment upon the judiciary, which is an independent arm of government; Interference in federal investigative matters, particularly with the ICPC; undermining the authority of elected council members and local governance structures and introducing a precedent that could erode citizen confidence in the impartiality of government.

He said that while the governor may have acted with the intent to restore order, the method adopted has compromised lawful avenues for resolving disputes and unintentionally heightened the perception of executive overreach.

On the need for correction of the alleged anomaly, he said that to preserve the integrity of governance in Abia State and prevent further escalation of tensions, the governor is respectfully urged to reconsider and rescind the June 9 directives that conflict with constitutional norms and allow the law to take its full course.

“The Abia State House of Assembly should initiate a formal review of the role of lawmakers in executive matters to safeguard institutional integrity. The judiciary should discharge its mandate independently, without interference or coercion. All elected must not be penalised for exercising their constitutional duties,” he said

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