Reactions As Rep Member Alex Ikwechegh Caught On Video Assaulting Bolt Driver
8 months ago 3 min read
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A House of Representatives member for Aba North/South Federal Constituency (APGA), Alex Ikwechegh, has been caught on video assaulting and threatening an in e-hailing (bolt) driver during a delivery dispute at his residence in Maitama, Abuja.
The video which has sparked outrage, captured Ikwechegh repeatedly slapping and berating the driver for requesting that he come outside to collect a delivery of snails, a request the politician deemed disrespectful.
The unnamed driver, in the video, could be seen distressed, while filming the interaction between him and Ikwechegh.
“Do you know who I am? I can make this man disappear in the whole of Nigeria, and nothing will happen,” Ikwechegh could be heard saying, adding that he wouldn’t pay the driver for the delivery, in a phone call with a lady the lawmaker said sent the item.
Ikwechegh further said, “I am not going to call my policemen to beat you up; I will do that myself.
“I will show that I am a big brother to you, tie you up, lie you down and put you in my generator house.
“Do you know where you are? Because you saw me sitting outside here. Look at this monkey,” the lawmaker said in what many commentators have said amounts to a high level of incitement and derogatory remark.
In another part of the footage, Ikwechegh questioned whether the driver knew who he was talking to, and boasted about his influence and dared the driver to report the assault. “Call the Inspector General of Police that I slapped you,” he taunted.
Following the assault, the video has drawn criticism and concerns from Nigerians about the abuse of power by some politicians.
A commentator said,
Disgraceful Power Show from Mazi Alex Ifeanyi Mascot Ikwechegh, a member of the Nigerian Federal House of Representatives, Representating Aba North and South Federal Constituency under APGA. pic.twitter.com/XgO7gSFiDE
However, Ikwechegh recently secured his seat following a legal ruling by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Umuahia, Abia State.
In September 2023, Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe of the Tribunal ordered that a certificate of return be issued to Ikwechegh after the former holder, Emeka Nnamani, was disqualified over certificate forgery allegations.
The court ruled that Nnamani was not a registered member of his former party, APGA, during the 2015 election.
Nnamani, however, disputes the ruling, and called it a fabrication by political rivals and attributed the legal challenge to errors in record-keeping at his alleged alma mater.
THE WHISTLER contacted the lawmaker for comments, but the aide Kalu Uche, said he was not available for comments.
