Ahead of the November 11, 2023 Imo State governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has cried out over alleged acts of intimidation and incarceration of its members by Governor Hope Uzodimma and the police.
This, the party argued is aimed at cowing residents of the state, especially media professionals and the opposition PDP for purely political reasons.
Acting state publicity secretary of the party, Emenike Nmeregini who raised the alarm while addressing newsmen at the party secretary in Owerri insisted that the clampdown was hatched by state security operatives working under the dictates of the ruling APC administration to derail the party’s governorship campaigns of making the state safe again.
The party noted that such action on innocent Imolites is totally a direct assault on our democratic order and demands unconditional release of Chisom Mark and to discontinue further acts of scheduled arrest of PDP members and directors already in Uzodimma’s list.
The party resolved that if Chisom Mark’s offence is such that cannot be handled by the police, the matter should be prosecuted in court of law rather than to continue to keep him in the police cell.
The party condemned the resort to the use of state apparatus of power for harassment, intimidation, illegal arrest and detention of innocent citizens and indirect violation of their constitutionally guaranteed rights to personal liberty and freedom of expression.
It therefore appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun and other service chiefs for urgent intervention to such a precarious situation in the state.
On behalf of the Imo State government, the commissioner for information and strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba stressed that for now they are more interested in serving the citizenry and ensuring their welfare . According to him, the administration is focused and doesn’t have the time to respond to frivolous issues.
Meanwhile, the party through its legal adviser, Kissinger Ikeoku has rejected the judgement of the Justice Anthony Akpovi led three-man panel of the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal which reversed the victory of the party and its two candidates.
In a statement made available to newsmen at the party secretariat, the party dismissed the judgement as shocking embarrassment and a mockery of the nation’s judicial system.
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