Tension as masked men storm Labour Party’s meeting in Abia

A Labour Party meeting in Aba was violently disrupted by masked men, believed to be policemen, in a dramatic raid that left attendees in disarray. Eyewitnesses described how over 20 masked individuals stormed the venue, demanding silence and inciting chaos as party members fled for safety.

The assailants targeted Prince G.O. Ndubueze, secretary of the Labour Party’s local government election committee, declaring his arrest without presenting any warrant. Refusing to comply with what appeared to be unlawful intimidation, the attendees rallied around Ndubueze, insisting the police could not take him away without proper documentation.

Following the altercation, over 500 Labour Party members took to the streets in protest, accompanying Ndubueze to the Aba Area Police Command, where he spoke to journalists. He boldly accused Governor Alex Otti of orchestrating the intimidation in a bid to impose candidates in the upcoming November 2 local government elections.

“I received no warrant of arrest. I don’t even know if they are real policemen, but as a law-abiding citizen, I will go with them,” said Ndubueze. “However, I will not bow to Governor Alex Otti’s intimidation. This is a governor who rose to power through a legitimate election but now seeks to impose chairmanship and councillorship candidates. The Labour Party in Abia State will not stand for this."

The Labour Party has condemned the incident, demanding an immediate investigation into the identities of the masked men and the motivations behind this alarming interference. This latest episode raises serious concerns about the increasing intimidation tactics faced by opposition parties in the region, as tensions rise ahead of the upcoming election.