Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has denied giving the state police command the order to teargas Peter Obi’s Labour Party supporters, who organised a one million-person march in favor of their chosen candidate in the state capital.
Umahi was responding to the claim that he gave the state police command instructions to disperse the supporters who had gathered at the Pastoral Centre, Nkwagu Ugbala Ground Arena, People’s Club, and other places around the state.
The governor said in a statement sent to journalists in Abakaliki and signed by the Special Assistant on Media and Strategy, Mr. Chooks Oko, that he was not aware of the reported interruption of the Obidient movement in the state.
He said, “The rumours making the rounds that he (Umahi) ordered the disruption of a gathering in support of one of the presidential candidates in the 2023 elections is not true.
“The Governor of Ebonyi State is certainly not aware of any disruption of any gathering as he didn’t order any. He is a democrat who believes firmly in the rule of law. He wishes every contending politician the very best and will insist on a level playing ground for all. If it is true that the police dispersed people, the answer will surely rest with the police.”
According to information obtained, Obi’s followers staged a march in Ebonyi State, halting economic activity as hundreds of shops and business owners closed their doors to support the Obi-dent movement in the state.
Following the event, one of the group leaders, Obinna Uko, addressed the media in Abakaliki and praised the supporters of Obi.
He characterized the policemen’s attempted assault and interruption of the demonstration as being poorly motivated. He asked the former Anambra governor’s supporters to be steadfast in their backing.
