The leadership of the Labour Party has called for the immediate release of its National Vice Chairman for the South-East, Ceekay Igara, who was arrested by police allegedly on the orders of Abia Governor, Dr. Alex Otti.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the party’s Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi, it was revealed that Igara was apprehended in Aba while holding a meeting with party leaders. He and his associates were reportedly surrounded by police and taken away without any warrant of arrest.
Olorunfemi expressed shock over the situation, particularly given that it involved the only state governor from the Labour Party. He stated, “The party is worried that Dr. Alex Otti, whom we supported in the 2023 governorship election and defended his victory, has suddenly turned into a tiger ready to tear apart the party.”
He questioned the motivations behind Otti’s actions, noting the governor had previously hosted an extended stakeholders’ meeting in Abia and formed a caretaker committee, seemingly to undermine the party’s leadership. Olorunfemi emphasized the party’s confusion over why Otti is now attempting to destabilize the organization that once supported him.
Following a court ruling affirming the leadership of Julius Abure and validating the Nnewi convention, Olorunfemi mentioned that the party had extended an olive branch to the governor. He remarked, “We are sincerely at a loss as to why he is still working hard to destabilize and destroy the same party that sheltered him when he needed it most.”
He criticized Otti for resorting to “brute and anachronistic forms of political intimidation,” suggesting that the governor’s previous humane demeanor was a facade hiding his true nature.
The Labour Party is demanding that Igara be released immediately, or alternatively, that he be formally charged in court within the next 24 hours, as stipulated by law.