Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has ordered the closure of the offices belonging to the Edozie Njoku faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Labour Party (LP).
The Governor also instructed closure of the office of the Senator representing Anambra Central, Senator Victor Umeh.
The offices, situated at Udoka Housing Estate in Awka, were reportedly shut down by State Government officials in the company of individuals dressed in military attire.
The justification provided for this closure was that the estate is meant for residential purposes only, not for commercial activities.
Ikengaonline learned that Governor Soludo’s own campaign office was once located in the same Udoka estate during his bid for governorship in 2010, sparking speculation about the true motives behind this move.
The Labour Party has strongly criticised this action, condemning the lack of communication or warning prior to the closure of their office.
C.J. Okoli Akirika, the party’s Secretary, denounced the Government’s action, describing it as “unbelievable, absurd, and blatant,” vowing to pursue legal action in response.
According to Akirika, party members were forcefully removed from the premises and the office sealed off in a manner reminiscent of a military operation.
Those affected have viewed the action as an attempt by the state government to stifle opposition parties in the midst of the ongoing leadership crisis within APGA and the INEC’s recent recognition of Edozie Njoku as the party’s chairman.
The ongoing feud between the Edozie Njoku and Sly Ezeokenwa factions of APGA has only added fuel to the fire, with the Labour Party’s vocal criticism of the government further complicating the situation.
