Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Peoples Democratic Party in Imo State has formally petitioned the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services to immediately arrest and prosecute the Executive Chairman of Orlu Local Government Area, Chris Mbarie, over explosive remarks allegedly declaring the council a restricted zone for opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. In a strongly worded press statement, the party condemned the language used by the council boss as deliberate political intimidation and incitement to violence, warning that such rhetoric severely compromises public safety, electoral freedom, and the integrity of the democratic process.
The controversy stems from a video circulating widely across social media platforms, which allegedly captures Mbarie explicitly stating that opposition political networks would not be allowed to operate freely within Orlu. The footage has triggered widespread condemnation from civil society groups and opposition figures, who argue that no public official possesses the constitutional authority to prevent citizens from freely associating, assembling, campaigning, or supporting the political party of their choice. Imo State PDP spokesperson Lancelot Obiaku asserted that the language utilized by the council boss violates constitutional provisions guaranteeing freedom of association and assembly, emphasising that local government areas belong to the electorate, not to the ruling All Progressives Congress or any specific officeholder.
The PDP has demanded that security agencies immediately investigate the statement, its context, and the intention behind it, and where the investigation establishes criminal culpability, arrest and prosecute the chairman in accordance with the law. The party maintains that it is unacceptable for a public official to suggest that any part of Imo State can be declared a political no-go area for opposition parties, stressing that no chairman, governor, or political party has the constitutional authority to disenfranchise citizens. Security agencies must not wait until threats translate into violence before acting, the party warned, adding that the era of political intimidation and impunity must end in Imo State.
This is not the first time the APC in Imo State has employed tactics of voter intimidation, according to the PDP. During the last governorship election in the state, the party allegedly went as far as using town criers in many communities to announce that anyone not voting for the APC should not bother being at the polling unit. The deployment of the Ebubeagu security militia in Orlu during previous electoral contests has also been a flashpoint for controversy, with opposition leaders frequently alleging that state-backed security networks are repurposed to harass political rivals and divert electoral materials. The PDP has now drawn a line in the sand, declaring unequivocally that the opposition will not lie down and watch while any individual or group within the APC intimidates voters, suppresses opposition, or attempts to compromise the electoral process.
The current controversy in Orlu is not an isolated incident. The PDP statement referenced historical patterns of voter suppression engineered by the ruling party in previous election cycles, with opposition monitors documenting instances where local operatives utilised town criers to announce that individuals unwilling to vote for the incumbent administration should remain absent from polling units. Political analysts warn that waiting until verbal threats materialise into physical violence will severely destabilise the region, noting that Orlu has historically served as a critical geopolitical battleground within Imo State. Any systemic suppression of opposition campaigning in the area drastically alters the statewide electoral calculus, rendering the intervention of federal authorities essential for maintaining parity.
The party has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, civil society organisations, the media, election observers, and the international community to take note of this disturbing development and closely monitor political activities in Orlu and other parts of Imo State ahead of the 2027 elections. The PDP further urged the people of Imo not to fall for what it described as childish antics, pointing to the recent Osun governorship election where the masses defied intimidation by APC actors to vote and defend their votes. If the APC and its officials truly enjoy the confidence of the people, the party argued, they should go to the polls and earn their votes, as elections must be decided by the people, not by threats, intimidation, or violence.
The demand for preemptive action places significant pressure on federal security commands, with the PDP insisting that the integrity of the upcoming elections hinges on the ability of the Department of State Services to enforce neutrality among local government administrators. The party has vowed to document threats, report violations, and pursue every lawful avenue to protect the people's votes and democratic rights, warning that it will not be intimidated or silenced. As the 2027 election season gathers momentum, the Orlu controversy stands as a stark test of Nigeria's commitment to free, fair, and peaceful electoral contests, and of the willingness of security agencies to hold public officials accountable for statements that threaten the very fabric of democratic governance.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments