Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives, yesterday, decried the alleged persecution of its loyal members in the Ebonyi State chapter.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the caucus, led by Kingsley Chinda, expressed concern over the incarceration of the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Nwoba Chika Nwoba, which started on September 21, 2021.
The caucus blamed Governor Dave Umahi for Nwoba’s ordeal and detention at the Afikpo Federal Prison, following an order of remand issued by an Abakaliki Magistrate’s Court.
It also expressed surprise that the same court declined jurisdiction to hear the trumped-up charges against Nwoba, which had ensured that he remained incarcerated.
Lamenting the situation, the caucus pledged to deploy all legislative means available locally and internationally to safeguard the rights of PDP members in Ebonyi State and ensure the enthronement of the rule of law.
“While we are hopeful that the Ebonyi State High Court, sitting in Abakaliki, which has already heard his (Nwoba’s) application for bail, will do justice and grant him constitutional reprieve with the right to bail guarantees.
“It is our opinion that the terror unleashed on our members will not deter them from raising the banner of opposition to the inadequacies of the nanny dictator of the South East.
“In fact, it will strengthen our members’ resolve, including Nwoba, to continue to speak truth to power, which Umahi sadly exemplifies and in a manner that is consistent with the tradition of the PDP,” the statement reads.
The caucus added that Nwoba had not committed any offence known to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and it is not surprising, therefore, that the Magistrate’s Court rightly declined jurisdiction to entertain the trumped-up charges filed before it but choose to detain the accused, while rejecting the charge.
“Our country’s democracy is founded on respect for the rule of law, not the paired fists of a governor whose palm kernel was cracked for him by a benevolent spirit but choose to display needless power by arresting a citizen, whose only offence is that he exercised his right to free speech by calling public attention to Governor Umahi and his lackeys’ malfeasance.
“We wish to remind Umahi that every repression has an expiry date, just as it has consequences. His addiction to constantly deploying repressive state power against members of PDP, through the Ebonyi State Cybercrimes (Prohibition) Law and the police, remains not only an affront on civil liberties but an attempt to stifle free and open debate on which democracy thrives,” the statement added.
