A meeting of the Labour Party in Aba was disrupted on Saturday, October 19, by over 20 masked men suspected to be policemen, who stormed the venue and ordered members to remain silent.
The incident occurred as the party was preparing for the upcoming November 2 local government elections.
According to witnesses, five of the masked men approached the high table and informed the secretary of the Labour Party’s local government election committee, Prince G.O. Ndubueze, that he was under arrest. However, party members resisted the arrest, demanding the men produce a warrant, which they failed to do.
In protest, over 500 Labour Party members marched with Ndubueze to the Aba Area Police Command, where he was taken for questioning. Speaking to Vanguard, Ndubueze expressed his defiance, accusing Abia State Governor Alex Otti of attempting to impose candidates in the local government elections.
“I didn’t get any warrant of arrest from anywhere. I don’t even know whether they are policemen, but as a 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,” Ndubueze said.
“This is a governor who came to power through a legitimate election but now wants to impose candidates. The Labour Party in Abia state won’t tolerate imposition,” he added.