The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa, has pushed back against claims that the executive arm has the legislature in its pocket.

Speaking on Tuesday in Umuahia at an event marking the third anniversary of the 8th Assembly, Emeruwa said the two arms have a cordial working relationship — and that's by design.

“We maintained a cordial relationship with the government because, if there is any rift, the state will suffer,” he said.

“I disagree with the idea that the Executive has pocketed the State Assembly. We can disagree, and at the end, the matter is settled in a peaceful manner.”

Emeruwa said the Assembly has deliberately avoided conflict with the executive to ensure the state doesn't lose out on development.

He listed the achievements of the 8th Assembly, saying lawmakers have passed bills covering welfare, criminal justice, politics, and appropriation.

“There are too many laws that you may even say we should stop making laws for now, to implement the ones we have already done,” he said.

The Speaker also revealed plans to digitise the Assembly’s operations, though he admitted that funding remains a major challenge.

On constituency projects, Emeruwa said lawmakers have executed projects across the state but stressed that lawmaking remains their primary job.

He noted that the number of Labour Party lawmakers in the House has increased from nine to 11.

Emeruwa also addressed the killing of Wendy Achumba, a nursing student in neighbouring Imo State. He said Assembly members have visited her family and expressed confidence that justice will be served.

“Since those suspects have been caught, it's the duty of the law to investigate them and probably those who are arrested, will face justice,” he said.

Despite the achievements, Emeruwa admitted the Assembly hasn't achieved all its goals.

“We haven't gotten everything we wanted,” he said.

The 8th Assembly was inaugurated in June 2023, following the election of Governor Alex Otti under the Labour Party. The party also won a majority of seats in the House, giving the executive a friendly legislature from the start.

Critics have often accused state assemblies across Nigeria of being rubber stamps for governors, especially when the same party controls both arms. Emeruwa's comments are a direct response to that perception in Abia.

  • Speaker: Emmanuel Emeruwa
  • Event: Third anniversary of the 8th Abia State House of Assembly
  • Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2026
  • Location: Umuahia, Abia State
  • Labour Party lawmakers increased from 9 to 11
  • Plan to digitise Assembly operations, but funding is a challenge
  • Assembly visited family of murdered nursing student Wendy Achumba
  • Speaker denies executive control over legislature