Chaos erupted among members of the Labour Party (LP) caucus in the Abia State House of Assembly after a violent altercation broke out during a private meeting over the sharing of money allegedly disbursed by Governor Alex Otti. The confrontation left one lawmaker hospitalized with a deep head wound and severe concussion — a scandal that insiders say party leaders are desperately trying to conceal.
According to multiple sources, the Majority Leader, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu (Arochukwu Constituency), attacked his colleague Hon. Akachukwu Ucheonye (Aba Central Constituency) with a beer bottle during the tense meeting, which took place at the Aba residence of Hon. Fyne Ahuama, member representing Osisioma Ngwa South.
Witnesses say the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, was present when the attack occurred and immediately ordered members not to report the incident to police or leak details to the media.
“The lawmaker representing Aba Central suffered broken head injuries after being attacked by the Majority Leader with a beer bottle,” one insider told reporters. “The fight started during arguments over the sharing of money allegedly given to LP members by Governor Otti for passing the 2025 supplementary budget.”
How the Fight Started
Sources say Governor Otti had “appreciated” the LP caucus for quickly passing his ₦150 billion supplementary appropriation bill in August, in addition to the ₦750.3 billion 2025 budget tagged “Budget of Sustained Momentum.” To express his gratitude, Otti reportedly sent an undisclosed sum of money to the lawmakers.
However, the gesture quickly turned ugly. Hon. Ucheonye, who chairs the powerful House Committee on Appropriation, Budget and Planning, allegedly demanded a larger share of the funds, claiming his committee’s key role in the budget’s passage entitled him to more. His demand infuriated Majority Leader Kalu, sparking a heated verbal exchange that escalated into a physical fight.
Witnesses say Kalu smashed a beer bottle on Ucheonye’s head, leaving him bleeding heavily. He was rushed to a nearby private clinic for treatment.
In a message sent to Governor Otti — along with photos and videos of his injury — Ucheonye wrote:
“Good evening His Excellency, this is a wound I sustained from the Majority Leader for trying to voice my opinion on issues concerning my committee during our caucus meeting today at Aba.”
Barely days after the violent confrontation, the same group of lawmakers reportedly embarked on a state-sponsored trip to London, allegedly costing taxpayers nearly ₦1 billion. Despite his injuries, Hon. Ucheonye was discharged from the hospital to join his colleagues on the trip.
The legislators were said to have flown first class and stayed at the Premier Inn London Town Centre Hotel in Croydon. But even abroad, the drama followed them.
Reports indicate that another heated altercation broke out at the hotel after some lawmakers accused Speaker Emeruwa, Deputy Speaker Augustine Meregini, and Majority Leader Kalu of withholding part of the travel allowance. According to sources, only about 40% of the allocated funds were shared, while the rest “disappeared.” Hotel security was reportedly called to break up the confrontation.
Several lawmakers are now plotting to impeach the Speaker and principal officers upon their return to Nigeria, citing “financial misappropriation, abuse of office, and gross misconduct.”
The scandal has further exposed the deep corruption and internal decay within the Abia State Labour Party — the same party that rode on the promise of “a new dawn” under Governor Alex Otti. For many observers, the violent fight over “appreciation money” shows that the so-called agents of change are no different from the political class they once condemned.
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