By Ovat Abeng
The Anambra Government through the State Housing Development Corporation, has sealed off the offices of the Edozie Njoku faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Labour Party (LP), and the office of Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District.
The offices, located at the Udoka Housing Estate in Awka, the state capital, were sealed off by agents of the Corporation accompanied by men dressed in military and police uniforms.
The reason given for the seal-off was that the estate is a residential area, not a business or political area
However, it was gathered that during Soludo’s governorship campaign in 2010, his office was also located in the same Udoka estate, raising questions about the government’s motives.
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The Labour Party has condemned the action, stating that it was carried out without notice, warning, or any form of engagement with the party.
The party’s secretary, C.J. Okoli Akirika, described the action as “unfortunate, bizarre, and brazen” and vowed to seek legal redress.
Akirika said the party’s staff were chased away and the office sealed off in a “maniacal, frenzied, and frenetic commando-like operation”.
He accused the state government of attempting to truncate statutorily emplaced procedures and resorting to underhand, illegal, and obnoxious intimidation.
The seal-off has been seen as a move to suppress opposition parties in the state, amidst the ongoing controversy over the leadership of APGA and the recent recognition of Edozie Njoku as the party’s national chairman by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Edozie Njoku faction of APGA has been at loggerheads with the Sly Ezeokenwa leadership of the party, which is loyal to Soludo.
The Labour Party, which fielded Peter Obi as its presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has also been critical of the state government.
Also speaking to Journalists on the development, the National Vice Chairman of APGA, South East, Hon Engr. Tony Uche Ezekwelu, described the action of the Anambra Government as intimidating, suppression and act of impunity.
According to him, what really happened toda, is purely political. The incident happened exactly 10am. I am a witness to what happened because I am currently in Anambra State for an official assignment to monitor the selling of our party (APGA) Chairmanship form for the forthcoming September 28th, 2024 local government election in the state.
“I was shocked about the incident because, we have been in this building for the past two months without such incident, why now? We were not given any notice to quit our office. They invaded us unnoticed. I strongly believe that the action has a link to the forthcoming local overnment election
“The invasion has a political undertone. We are calling on the state governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo to fully accept the Supreme Court Judgement that affirmed Mt.Edozie Njoku as the National Chairman of the our great party for the sake of peace.
“Njoku has come to stay as the National Chairman of APGA with Chief Chekwas Okorie as the Board of Trustees Chairman of the party.
Engr Ezekwelu while disclosing that APGA, under the leadership of Mr. Njoku has setup a reconciliation committee to reconcile all aggrieved party members, assure that the party is fully prepared to participate the Anambra Local Government Election.
