The Chief Press Secretary to Deputy Governor Ikechukwu Emetu of Abia State, Mr. Chukwudi Eke Mba, has refuted claims that Kalu Mbah Nwoke, representative of Ohafia South constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, was kidnapped on Saturday.
Eke Mba revealed that the Labor MP was arrested on suspicion of storming the Ohafia Local Government Secretariat in Ebem with a group of thugs and attempting to intimidate voters and seize election materials.
The statement was issued in response to comments by the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Etigwe Uwah, who alleged that Mr. Nwoke was unlawfully detained, assaulted and excluded on election day.
Uwa also indicated that the security forces were acting on the orders of Deputy Governor Emetu.
However, the chief spokesperson denied the lieutenant governor’s involvement and explained as follows: Kalu Mba Nwoke, along with over 50 thugs, intimidated the voters he represented by infiltrating the local government secretariat and attempting to forcefully seize election materials distributed in each ward.
“His arrest was legal because he attempted to interfere with the electoral process, which is a criminal offense.”
Eke Mbah further said that there were no incidents of kidnapping of political opponents in Ohafia before or during the election.
Nwoke, a prominent grassroots politician, was released by police on Sunday, according to the Daily Post.
