The Labour Party has called for the immediate release of its South-East National Vice Chairman, Ceekay Igara, who was reportedly arrested in Abia on the orders of the state’s governor, Dr. Alex Otti.
In a statement released on Saturday by the party’s Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi, the Labour Party expressed shock over the incident. According to Olorunfemi, Igara was holding a meeting with other party leaders in Abia when police officers, without presenting an arrest warrant, surrounded them and took him into custody.
“The Labour Party is deeply disturbed by this situation, especially since it was allegedly ordered by Governor Alex Otti, the only governor elected under our party’s banner,” Olorunfemi said. He pointed out that the party had supported Otti during his 2023 governorship campaign and defended his victory but is now bewildered by the governor’s actions.
Olorunfemi further explained that after the Labour Party’s leadership, under Julius Abure, was validated by the courts, they had extended an olive branch to Governor Otti. Despite this, he accused the governor of attempting to undermine the party’s leadership by creating a caretaker committee following an extended stakeholders’ meeting in Abia.
“We don’t understand why he is working to destabilize the very party that gave him support when he needed it most,” Olorunfemi stated. He added that the governor’s actions show a different side to him, describing it as political intimidation.
The Labour Party is demanding that Igara be released immediately from police custody. Olorunfemi stressed that if the authorities have grounds for detaining Igara, they should charge him to court within 24 hours as required by law.
