- PDP: You (Otti) Orchestrated Our Members’ Arrest Over Dissent
- Otti: My Hands Are Clean, Consult Security Agents
By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Abia State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the Governor Alex Otti administration is muzzling opposition in the state
This allegation has sparked a war of words between both parties as the state government did not take the allegation lying down.
The PDP fired the first salvo when the party in a statement issued on Saturday by its Publicity Secretary, Eric Ikwuagwu, alleged that some of its Working Committee members, and other opposition figures had been arrested.
The statement claimed that a former chairman of the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, Henry Chilaka, along with four other PDP members, was arrested on the governor’s directive.
“Their current whereabouts are unknown, and their phones are unreachable,” PDP said.
According to the statement one Onyekachi Nwabueze was allegedly arrested by personnel from the Department of State Services detained without access to his lawyer, adding that it was an attempt to frustrate opposition in the state.
PDP stated, “The only ‘crime’ of these individuals is their firm and constructive criticism of Governor Otti’s administration on certain obnoxious policies which included mass dismissal of workers without due process, award of contracts without public tender, and a blatant conflict of interest in handling the state affairs.
“But in a strategic move to hold the state government accountable through formalised opposition, the Abia PDP created a PDP shadow government, appointing members to mirror the activities of each state ministry, with the intent of offering alternative, informed perspectives on government policies.
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“This initiative evidently angered Governor Otti, who, in an unprecedented move, vowed in one of his media chats with selected journalists in Abia State to crush all dissenting voices in the state.”
The PDP called on the federal authorities, including the National Security Adviser, to address the growing crisis in Abia State and prevent “Otti from eroding democratic norms and human rights in the state.”
Meanwhile, in a swift reaction on Saturday the spokesperson to Governor Alex Otti, Ukoha Njoku, said the governor wasn’t new to the attacks by the PDP.
He said, “The executive governor of Abia state is a democrat and has tolerated the most vicious attacks from agents of the immediate past administration who are very bitter about losing the last election. They go to the extent of manufacturing falsehood and fake news to incite the public against the Governor.”
Njoku stated that he couldn’t confirm if anyone was arrested.
The spokesperson added, “Some members of the opposition announced the formation of a Shadow Government and appointed shadow Commissioners and other appointees in Abia State which is a violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic, the Electoral Act and even the Constitution of the PDP as a Political Party.
“It is unheard of that a set of people can constitute themselves into a shadow Government under a presidential system of Government. Please, extend your investigation to the Law enforcement agents to verify the reason for the arrest if any.”
