IFEANYI EZUGWU,ENUGU.
The Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, has demanded for urgent and unconditional release of members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, from Isi-Uzo local government area in Enugu state currently being detained in Enugu prison and the state police headquarters.
CLO in a petition to the Enugu state Governor, Sullivan Chime and the commissioner of Police, said that the harassment, victimization, continued arrest and detention of the APGA members by the police is at the instigation of the Chairman of Isi-Uzo local government chairman Augustine Nnamani and the peoples Democratic Party, PDP, local government chairman Chijioke Ugwueze.
The state commissioner of Police, Abubarkar Mohammed, when contacted, failed to react on the development.
The CLO Director in South East, Olu Omotayo in the petition said the organization believes the crisis needs urgent attention as it concerns the plight of suffering members of APGA, in Isi–Uzo Local government.
CLO said it learnt that during the last Local government election which took place in the state on the 2nd November 2013, there was a fracas at the Umualor Community in Isi- Uzo Local government.
The said fracas witnessed confrontation between the supporters of APGA and the PDP which after the said election, the supporters of APGA in the local government have not known peace as some stalwart of the PDP led by the Local government chairman Mr. Augustine Nnamani and the PDP chairman Mr. Chijioke Ugwueze have launched a massive attack and victimization of the members of APGA, in the local government.
CLO allaged that the above-mentioned duo has also been instigating the Police to arrest APGA supporters, which have led to the massive arrest and detention of APGA supporters immediately after the election.
The arrested persons were taken to the State Criminal and Investigation Department(SCID), of the Enugu State Police Command, Enugu where they were detained and later allowed to be taken on bail by the State Chairman APGA, Mr. Okechukwu Nkolagu.
“As if all these were not enough an APGA stalwart Mr. Abuchi Ejiagbo was arrested two weeks ago and arraigned before the Magistrates Court sitting at Ikem, Isi Uzo Local government and remanded in prison. At present the APGA councillorship candidate during the last local government election Mr. Ifeanyi Ogbodo and an APGA stalwart Mr. Obinna Alu were arrested by the police on Thursday the 23rd January 2014 and are presently being detained at the State Criminal and Investigation Department (SCID), of the Enugu State Police Command.
“The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said they believe that the massive arrest of its members is meant to deter them from prosecuting legal action filed in Court by the party local government chairmanship candidate challenging his unlawful exclusion by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) in the 2nd November 2013, Local government election.
“We believe that one of the basic tenets of true democracy is political tolerance. We urge you to sustain the political tolerance that has been in the state since your assumption of office as governor.
“We urge you to urgently intervene in this matter by virtue of your position as the Chief security officer of the state and the father of all. The APGA members are still your law abiding people and citizens of this state, who you are also entitled to protect their interest irrespective of their political differences with you.
“We urge you to urgently intervene in this matter and stop further harassment, molestation, police arrest and detention of the members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). We also pray you to ensure the immediate release of all the members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance Party (APGA),Isi –Uzo Local government who are presently in detention, said CLO in the petition.”
