News Desk
Labour Party (LP) has raised alarm over the invasion of its State Secretariat in Imo State, by thugs and policemen suspected to be working for the state governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, removing campaign billboards of Peter Obi and the party’s governorship candidate, Sen. Athan Achononu.
Recall that it’s National Secretariat in Abuja was some times around May, vandalized by thugs suspected to be working for Lamidi Apapa and his group.
The party in a statement by it’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh on Monday reported that in the early hours of Monday 28 August, the Imo state Secretariat of the Labour Party was once more attacked by the police and thugs allegedly working under the directives of the state government.
Ifoh went further to report that the state chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Callistus Ihejiagwa sent an SOS to the public informing Nigerians to come to the aid of the party which at the time was at the mercy of the attackers who comprised of over a hundred Thugs and the accompanying men of the Police Force.
The SOS read, “Imo State Labour Party office in Owerri under serious attack by Hope Uzodimma led thugs and policemen.
“They are presently demolishing structures in our Secretariat. Please let the entire world hear this and come to our aid”.
In a voice mail sent to our party headquarters later, the state chairman of the party said, “We have been invaded by the thugs and policemen under the directives of Hope Uzodinma, they have pulled down all our flags, pulled down the banners of Peter Obi, pulled down the banners of our governorship candidate, seized People’s phone, beat people up, and committed all manners of atrocities just now in our office.”
He said that when he confronted them, they said they were under directives by the state government to pulled down Peter Obi and Senator Athan’s billboards but particularly that of Obi.
He said, “They were instructed to target Obi’s billboard everywhere in the city. One of the assaulted members of the party is presently hospitalized after the brutality meted at us. We are calling on the whole world to hear our predicament and come to our aid. The government is now hounding every opposition element in the state. “
Recall that early last week, the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi led a crowd of party faithful and supporters including Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti and Labour Party members of the national assembly to formally inaugurate the governorship campaign of our candidate Senator Athan Achonu. The sea of heads that graced the occasion is believed to have sent a shocking warning of what will happen in the November 11, Governorship election in the state.
Also recall that the same secretariat was attacked in March and as well as in April this year by the police allegedly directed by the state government.
LP called on the state government to refrain from using brute force and intimidation against opposition political parties in the state.
The party also calling on the Inspector General of the Police to caution the government of the state and order the police commissioner in the state to rise to the occasion and check any further intimidation of the Labour party and members in the state.
Techrectory.
MYKE UZENDU, ABUJA
