The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State has condemned the alleged disruption of a political meeting in Isiokpo, Ikwerre Local Government Area, and demanded the immediate release of three of its members arrested during the incident.
The party identified the detained members as Confidence Amadi, Chikezie Justice and Isaiah Thomas, who it said were arrested over allegations of cultism.
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Chizy Enyi, on September 11, the ADC described the allegations as baseless and politically motivated, based on information available to the party.
The party said its House of Assembly candidate for Ikwerre, Hon. Jeffrey Wobodo, had convened a peaceful consultative meeting ahead of the commencement of his campaign activities when the gathering was allegedly disrupted by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and members of OSPAC.
According to the ADC, some participants were assaulted, while mobile phones were allegedly seized before the three members were arrested.
The party further alleged that the Isiokpo Area Commander, ACP Felix Ojiaku, said the suspects would be charged with cultism based on an alleged “order from above.”
The ADC called for the immediate release of the three members unless the police can provide credible evidence of an offence against them and proceed in accordance with the law.
The party also alleged that some OSPAC members later mobilised to the Area Command and assaulted ADC members within the vicinity of the police facility.
The ADC called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrests and the conduct of all security personnel involved.
The party also urged the authorities to ascertain whether any officer acted on an “order from above” and, if so, identify the source and purpose of such an order.
The ADC maintained that political opposition, peaceful assembly and political mobilisation are not criminal offences, stressing that its members have a constitutional right to participate in the democratic process.
The party said it would continue to use lawful and constitutional means to protect its members and supporters from what it described as intimidation, unlawful arrest, assault and political violence.
The Ikwerre Local Government Council, the police and OSPAC members were yet to react to the incident.
