Protests In Ebonyi Community Over Linus Okorie Arrest.
Reported By: Febechukwu
A massive protest has rocked Onuafor Enuagu community, Onicha Igboeze in Ebonyi State on Tuesday following the continued detaining of the former member of the House of Representatives and the Labour Party Senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South zone, Linus Abaa Okorie.
This was even as Okorie accused of obtaining by false pretence, inciting of violence and murder, spent the first night at the facility of the Nigeria Correctional Services, Abakaliki after a Magistrate turned down his bail application.
The Police on Tuesday arraigned the Labour Party Senatorial candidate before a Magistrate, but hearing could not go ahead because the Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
At Onuafor Enuagu Onicha Igboeze community the youths and women barricaded the only road leading to Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, chanting songs demanding for the unconditional release of their son.
Linus Abaa Okorie hails from the community and had represented the Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency for two times.
He has been having a running battle with the State governor, Dave Umahi who is from Uburu community in neighbouring Ohaozara LGA, as both Okorie and Umahi are candidates for the same Ebonyi South Senatorial zone elections in 2023.
In what will turn out to be a tight race, incumbent Governor Dave Umahi from Ohaozara LGA whose constitutional two terms as governor of Ebonyi State will end in May 2023, is the candidate of the APC for the Ebonyi South zone, while the current serving Senator for the Senatorial district, Michael Amah Nnachi from Afikpo South LGA (Edda) is flying the flag of the PDP, even as Linus Abaa Okorie from Onicha LGA is the candidate of LP, just as Chief Ifeanyi Eleje from Afikpo North LGA is the APGA candidate in the election.
Okorie was reportedly abducted late Sunday by people suspected to be operatives of Ebubeagu, an Ebonyi State government run security outfit, was later rescued at the old Government House, Abakaliki by the Police, who claimed in a Press State that the former lawmaker was arrested not kidnapped.
Aides and associates of Okorie have accused the State government and the ruling APC of intimidation, victimization and harassment of opposition politicians in Ebonyi State, alleging that the charges against the 2023 Ebonyi South zone Labour Party Senatorial candidate, were trumped up and politically motivated.
Neither the Ebonyi State government, nor the ruling APC in the State had responded to the allegations, at the time of filing this report.[watch Video]https://youtu.be/wNQQg2avBNQ
