The recent assault and threats against an e-hailing (Bolt) driver by Alex Ikwechegh, a first-term lawmaker, representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency of Abia State, in the House of Representatives reflects a disturbing abuse of power and an affront to the dignity and rights of all Nigerians.
In a viral video on X, Ikwechegh is seen not only striking Stephen Abuwatseya, an e-hailing driver three times but also issuing threats to make him “disappear,” brazenly wielding his position as a weapon. Drunken by power, Ikwechegh described himself as someone who is above the law and threatened the dignity of labour of the driver by refusing to pay him his delivery fees despite delivering the snails he ordered from a vendor.
Abuwatseya had told the lawmaker to come out of his premises to collect his parcel and since he had not accorded him the overbearing ‘worship’ doled on politicians, this had irked the lawmaker. Such conduct underscores a worrying trend of impunity among the political class, suggesting a systemic disregard for the rights of citizens and the rule of law.
Crucially, the people of the Aba North/Aba South constituency need to evaluate the performance of the lawmaker and consider recalling him for his misconduct. Also, the rights and liberties movement in the country must rise to the occasion to defend the rights of the poor driver, ensuring that the case is not scuttled or mismanaged by some corrupt members of the police force.
While we applaud the police for swiftly condemning the lawmaker’s action and inviting him for interrogation, a thorough investigation must be done to achieve justice. The House of Representatives must also evolve an effective mechanism within their House rules to punish lawmakers who display rash, uncouth, and tyrannical acts within and outside the Green Chamber.
Unfortunately, the emergence of the lawmaker in the Green Chambers underscores the flaw in our democracy. His action further emboldens the gross disconnection between the leaders and the governed. According to reports, the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia sacked the lawmaker representing the Constituency in the House of Representatives, Emeka Nnamani of the Labour Party, based on certificate forgery in September. The three-man tribunal declared Alex Ikwechegh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance as the winner of the election.
In other words, Ikwechegh was brought into office through the intrusion of court rulings, thereby transferring the people’s electoral franchise, and establishing a disconnect between the people and the embattled lawmaker. This incident shows that Ikwechegh may have not found ways to reclaim legitimacy but may have remained cocooned in Abuja, receiving humongous salaries and allowances while wreaking havoc and riding roughshod on the sanity of common, hardworking Nigerians. The judiciary must be wary of swiftly using the gavel on electoral matters such as Ikwechegh’s case; a re-run of the elections would have made him or any other politician earn the mandate of the people and appreciate the importance of his or her office.
While it is laudable that his party, the APGA, has condemned him in strong terms and has set up a disciplinary committee to engage the matter, those are, at best, political face-saving measures. Political parties are meant to present to the people men and women of the finest moral character; leaders who see themselves as servants of the people instead of slave drivers. Therefore, APGA and other political parties must recalibrate their candidate selection processes and investigate the personalities fielded as worthy options for countrymen to elect to exalted offices.
The lawmaker must be severely punished to serve as a deterrent to other political officeholders. In 2019, Nigerian Senator Elisha Abbo similarly assaulted a woman in Abuja, an act that provoked outrage and led to a judicial fine of N50 million. Yet such fines are rare, and real accountability for abusive officials is virtually nonexistent. Ikwechegh’s case presents an opportunity to reverse this trend if only those in power are willing to act decisively.
For the Nigerian government, and the House of Representatives in particular, this incident should not be taken lightly. The Honourable Speaker must initiate an immediate investigation, while Ikwechegh should be held to account both legally and politically. In nations where the rule of law prevails, even the perception of misconduct by officials is met with rapid consequences. Nigerian citizens deserve no less.
In the United Kingdom, swift action was taken recently when Labour MP Mike Amesbury was suspended following an alleged physical altercation in October 2024. The video evidence reportedly showed Amesbury in a brawl, leading the Labour Party to suspend him immediately, pending investigation.
This response reflects a commitment to holding public officials accountable for ethical lapses, emphasising a standard that is still lacking in Nigeria, where powerful officials often evade consequences for misconduct. This contrast underlines the need for Nigeria to adopt similar accountability practices to protect citizens and uphold democratic values.
Every Nigerian, regardless of status, deserves respect and fair treatment. Public office is a privilege, not a license to humiliate or oppress. It is time for Nigeria to demand higher standards from its leaders, reinforcing that the misuse of power has no place in a truly democratic society.
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