The APGA group in Imo State wants Mr. Albert Uchenna Ahanonu, their leader for Owerri North chair position, to be freed right away.
Mr. Ahanonu was taken by the police on September 22, 2024. This was just after an election that had problems like missing result papers, and then the APC group was announced as the winners.
People from APGA feel that Mr. Ahanonu’s arrest is because of politics. They say it’s to stop him from going to the election tribunal with his complaints about the election on September 21.
The group thinks the reasons for his arrest are made-up so he stays in jail until it’s too late for him to complain officially about the election.
Mr. John Iwuala, who leads the party in the state, asked the government of Imo to step in. He wants Mr. Ahanonu to be released right away without any conditions, or if not, then to be charged in court if there’s a real reason.
Mr. Iwuala is worried because the people in APGA are unhappy and upset since Mr. Ahanonu was locked up.
In a statement he made, Mr. Iwuala said, “We think he’s been arrested for political reasons, particularly because he was collecting proof to take to the election petition tribunal. The silly charges against him look like they are to stop him from having a fair chance to speak up legally.”
He asked Governor Hope Uzodinma to help stop what they think is unfair political bullying and make sure Mr. Ahanonu’s rights are respected.
Mr. Iwuala pointed out, “As the top security person in the state, we trust you don’t support picking on people for political reasons. We ask you to help settle this issue.”
He also asked the police boss, Mr. Aboki Danjuma, to handle this matter right. He stressed that Mr. Ahanonu has been kept for more than a day without being allowed to see a doctor.
“This is breaking his basic human rights,” Mr. Iwuala stated.