The Abia State Working Committee ,SWC, of the Labour Party says the arrest of the South East Vice Chairman of the Party, Mr. Ceekay Igara by some security agents
that Mr. Igara’s arrest stems from a petition SWC wrote to the Police against him and others over their acts of Extortion and Impersonation of the state Chapter of the Party.
A release endorsed by Hon. Emmanuel Nweze Oti, Acting State Chairman, Labour Party
Abia State points out that Mr. Igara, by the Constitution of our party has no legal right to usurp or impersonate the office of the State Chairman, having ceased to be the state chairman after his election as the South East National Vice Chairman in March this year.
The release adds that no law court has invalidated the existence or activities of the Acting State Chairman Mr. Emmanuel Oti and his Executive members, hence it was wrong and illegal for Mr. Igara to impersonate the Chairman and his executive by carrying out their legally recognised functions without their consent or approval.
According to the release, following the petition, Mr. Igara had been invited by the police to which he refused to honour.
It further stated that while the SWC recognises and respects the judgement which recognised Barr. Julius Abure as the National Chairman, Abure’s faction which Igara is part of has no right to flagrantly ignore the appeal and the motion for stay of execution that had been duly filed against them, by purpotedly dissolving and imposing a new Caretaker leadership on the Abia State Chapter, against the provisions of the law and the Constitution of our party.
While disclosing that the Abia State Chapter of Labour Party had gone further to secure a validly issued order of court which restrains Abure, Igara and others from those activities which prompted our petition to the Police, the SWC argues that there is no reason why Abure and Igara should ignore the Appeal and Motion for Stay of Execution filed in the same court. Why should Abure and Igara choose the court orders to obey or ignore.
Meanwhile, the Abia State Police Command has confirmed that it invited Mr Igara on Saturday following a a written petition from the Labour Party’s Acting State Chairman against him and three others for alleged impersonation, obtaining by false pretense, and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
A statement by the Command’s PORO, Maureen Chinaka says he was questioned and released the same day while investigation is ongoing.