Former Labour Party Ebonyi South Senatorial Candidate, Linus Okorie, has accused the Nigerian Police of being used to disrupt the Labour Party (LP) and intimidate its leaders. Okorie, a former member of the House of Representatives for Ohaozara, Onicha, and Ivo Constituency in Ebonyi State, stated that the recent police invitation of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, is part of a broader effort to prevent the NLC from intervening in the ongoing Labour Party crisis.
In a statement released in Abakaliki on Tuesday, Okorie expressed concern that Nigeria is increasingly being transformed into a police state under the current federal government. He argued that the blurred lines between law enforcement and political power are leading to the misuse of police forces to suppress dissent.
Okorie cited instances of police brutality during recent national hunger protests, which reportedly resulted in several fatalities. Amnesty International and other organizations have raised alarms about these incidents, accusing the police of using excessive force against unarmed protesters. Among those voicing concerns are Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, the 2023 Presidential Candidates of the PDP and LP, respectively.
The NLC, which has been under pressure since the nationwide protests in August 2024, had earlier convened a stakeholders meeting in April to address the Labour Party’s leadership crisis. However, Okorie claims that coordinated efforts, including police intervention, have been made to undermine these efforts and frustrate the formation of a stronger LP.
Okorie also highlighted a series of recent events, including a police raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja and the arrest of security guards, which he believes were aimed at intimidating the NLC and its leadership. The latest development, a police summons for Joe Ajaero on charges including criminal conspiracy and treasonable felony, is viewed by Okorie as a tactic to further pressure the NLC.
He questioned the fairness of the police’s actions and whether citizens’ rights to a fair hearing, as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution, are still respected by the country’s security agencies.
