At least two senior members of the governing Labour Party (LP) in Abia have been arrested by heavily armed men who invaded their meeting in a hotel in Aba, ABN TV reports.
The masked men claimed to be acting on orders “from above” without naming who the above are.
Those arrested include, the party’s Deputy National Chairman, Hon. Ceekay Igara and the acting State Chairman, Prince G. O. Ndubueze.
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Our correspondent gathered that Prince Ndubueze was forcefully whisked away in an unmarked vehicle, a situation that has since raised concerns.
In response, Labour Party members attending the meeting erupted into solidarity chants, condemning the actions as “anti-people” and decrying the situation in their state.
Protesting the action of the police, over 500 members of the party marched with Ndubueze to the Aba Area police command.
In a short interview with Vour correspondent, Ndubueze said he would not bow to intimidation from Governor Alex Otti who he accused of seeking to impose chairmanship and councillorship candidates in the November 2 local government election.
“I didn’t get any warrant of arrest from anywhere. I don’t even know whether they are policemen, but as law abiding citizen, I’m going with the police. But I will never bow to intimidation from Gov. Alex Otti. We won’t allow him to impose candidates in this local government election.
“This is a governor who came to power through a legitimate election, but wants to impose candidates. The Labour Party in Abia state won’t tolerate imposition.”
This development comes amidst internal party restructuring.
Emmanuel Nweze Otti was recently inaugurated as acting chairman, replacing Ceekay Igara, who was elevated to National Vice Chairman, South East.
Governor Alex Otti had months ago held a convention where an interim leadership of the party was named.
This was however voided as the court only recognised Julius Abure as the authentic national chairman of the party.
The party has also been having internal wranglings ahead of the November local government election.
Recently, Igara had alleged that the list of candidates believed to have the backing of the governor for the local government election was not authentic, insisting that only the national leadership of the party can clear candidates for the local government election.
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