The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has petitioned the National Assembly and head of security organisations over alleged suppression of the opposition by the governor of Abia state, Alex Otti.
The party alleged that the administration’s resort to oppression towards the opposition is an attempt to evade giving account of the over N100 billion of state funds which the government said was payment for projects in the state.
Those petitioned by Abia PDP were Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the director general, Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Others, who were petitioned by the Abia state chapter of PDP were; President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, United Nations Human Rights Council, United State Department of State, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others.
The PDP specifically urged the IGP to ensure that the Abia State Police Command remains impartial and does not become an instrument of political oppression.
The party also condemned the abuse of power and the growing intolerance towards democratic dissent by the Abia state Labour Party administration.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja at the PDP national secretariat, the state publicity secretary, Eric Ikwuagwu said PDP is aware of a disturbing plot orchestrated by “Governor Dr. Otti to clampdown, intimidate and suppress opposition in Abia State by arrest of some members of the Abia PDP State Working Committee, as well as other prominent opposition figures, on baseless allegations.”
Condemning the governor’s move against the opposition, Ikwuagwu said, “we strongly condemn this abuse of power and the growing intolerance towards democratic dissent. We call on the Inspector General of Police Mr. Kayode Egbetokun to ensure that the Abia State Police Command remains impartial and does not become an instrument of political oppression. The Nigerian Police Force has a long-standing reputation for professionalism, and we urge them to uphold these standards in Abia State.
“We also appeal to the National Security Adviser to the President, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to intervene in this matter before Governor Otti’s actions descend into authoritarianism, threatening the very fabric of our democracy.
“We are reminded of the time and effort it took to ensure that Hon. Aaron Uzodike, a duly elected member of the PDP, who had won at the Appeal Court, was sworn into the Abia State House of Assembly after an inexplicable 10-month delay. To this day, Hon. Aaron Uzodike is still struggling to receive his rightful entitlements.
“It is important to note that before the rise of the Labour Party to power, political parties in Abia State respected each other’s rights, even in the heat of fierce election campaigns. However, the current government’s intolerance and disregard for the principles of democracy could set our progress back to a time when political opposition was repressed. If left unchecked, Governor Otti’s actions would undermine the democratic gains made so far since 1999.
“We urge the federal authorities, including the National Security Adviser, to urgently address the growing crisis in Abia State and prevent Governor Otti from further eroding democratic norms and human rights in the state.”
In their petition, the Abia PDP frowned at the escalating attempt by the governor to suppress legitimate democratic opposition in Abia state through acts of intimidation, arrest and harassment of PDP members and other opposition figures.
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