Members of the Abia State House of Assembly have travelled to the United Kingdom for what has been described as a “high-level” legislative seminar.
Before departing, the lawmakers passed a vote of confidence in Governor Alex Otti, citing what they called his impressive performance across various sectors of the state.
The overseas trip, however, has drawn criticism from opposition figures in Abia, who described it as unnecessary and wasteful.
The Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Eric Ikwuagwu, dismissed the trip as “a pure excursion, sightseeing, and jamboree,” questioning its relevance to Nigeria’s legislative system.
Ikwuagwu argued that if the lawmakers intended to improve their legislative knowledge, they should have visited countries operating a presidential system of government similar to Nigeria’s, rather than the United Kingdom, which follows a parliamentary model.
“If they ever wish to understudy any legislature, it must be with states practising the presidential system of government like Nigeria — definitely not the UK,” Ikwuagwu said.
While details of the seminar remain undisclosed, critics have called for more transparency and accountability regarding the objectives, funding, and expected outcomes of such foreign trips.
The Abia State government and House leadership have yet to respond to the criticism.
