…Party rejects tribunal’s nullification of Ugochinyere, Okeke’s election

Ahead of the November 11 Imo governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, of working with the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mohammed Barde, to intimidate, harass, arrest and detain members of the opposition.

Briefing journalists, yesterday, in Owerri, the acting Imo PDP Publicity Secretary, Emenike Nmeregini, alleged that the plan was to muzzle the opposition, including the media, ahead of the poll.

Venting their anger, Nmerenini said the party has forwarded a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, for intervention.

He disclosed that a member of the party, Chisom Mark, had been a victim.

But in their reactions, the Special Adviser to the governor on Print Media, Ambrose Uneze, dismissed the allegation, saying that Uzodimma never arranged with the CP to intimidate, harass, arrest and detain either opposition party members or any citizen of the state.

Uneze said: “Opposition parties are always pointing accusing fingers to the governor. Uzodimma is not clamping down on either opposition or anybody. He has no ill-feelings against anybody. In fact, he is the father of all. Anybody saying that he is working with the CP to clamp down on opposition is not telling the truth.”

Also reacting, the Imo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Henry Okoye, dismissed the allegation, saying: “I don’t want to comment or say anything. You people know the truth.”

He held that the constitutionally guaranteed rights to personal “liberty and freedom of expression” must be allowed to thrive in the state. The Imo PDP spokesperson appealed to the IGP and other service chiefs to urgently intervene in the situation.

Meanwhile, the party has rejected the judgment of the three-man State and National Elections Tribunal sitting in Nasarawa State, voiding the victories of two of its members, Ugochinyere Ikenga (Ideato North and South Federal Constituency) and Jonas Okeke (Ihitteuboma, Obowo and Ehime Federal Constituency).

In a statement by the legal adviser to the party in the state, Kissinger Ikeokwu, the judicial pronouncements were “shocking, embarrassing and a mockery” of the judicial system of Nigeria. (The Guardian)

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