Labour Party candidate, Hon. Clinton Amadi, who contested in the March 18 Imo State House of Assembly elections has been arrested by the Tiger Base of the police command in Imo State.
He was arrested on Monday at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) secretariat located at Port Harcourt Road in Owerri, the state capital.
According to a journalist, Joshua Chibuzom, Amadi was arrested while attempting to obtain Certified True Copies (CTC) of electoral materials.
He is currently in police custody and is yet to be released. The 27 lawmakers of the LP in the just held house of Assembly elections in the state have called for his immediate release.
In a statement issued by Precious Nwadike, Nnaemeka Obiaraeri, Charles Ogu, and 24 others, the LP lawmakers alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) were using the police to stop them from getting the INEC CTC results to fill their petitions.
They claimed that the LP candidate was arrested because of his resolve to seek redress in court over the allegedly rigged election.
The LP lawmakers called for the immediate release of Amadi and urged the Imo State Police command to investigate the activities of some government appointees who allegedly work around the streets of Owerri with detachment of armed policemen with which they intimidate and harass the people.
They also alleged a wicked plot by agents of APC to arrest and detain more LP candidates and keep them out of circulation until the date for filing of such suits as provided by the new Electoral Act expires.
The Police spokesperson, Henry Okoyo, said that he had yet to be briefed on the development.
The LP lawmakers accused the APC of desperation and relentless efforts to frustrate every attempt made by their colleagues to inspect and have the CTCs of results of the election.
The LP lawmakers claimed that the APC government in Imo State has manifested its desperation in its actions. They stated that they are committed to the recovery of the mandate freely given to them by the people of Imo State.
They called for Hon. Amadi’s immediate release and urged the police to investigate the activities of government appointees who allegedly intimidate and harass the people with detachment of armed policemen.
The LP lawmakers also called on the Imo State Police command to protect the rights of the citizens to participate in the democratic process without fear of intimidation or harassment. As of the time of filing this report, Hon. Clinton Amadi remains in police custody.
