Ebonyi: PDP seeks Buhari’s intervention, says it’s ‘illegal’ for Umahi to declare ex-lawmaker wanted

The Ebonyi chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the ongoing controversy in the state.

On Tuesday, the Ebonyi government declared Linus Okorie, a former legislator who is also a member of the PDP, wanted over allegations of publishing “inciting” messages.

Uchenna Orji, the state’s commissioner for information, had alleged that the “inflammatory publications” posted by the former lawmaker on Facebook was linked to the beheading of an operative of the Ebube Agu security outfit.

But the former lawmaker had faulted the declaration, alleging that “Umahi is simply looking for a high profile scapegoat to take away attention from the many lives being lost to Ebube Agu operatives in the state”.

Reacting to the declaration on Wednesday, Tochukwu Okorie, the chairman of Ebonyi PDP, said the governor does not have the power to declare the former lawmaker wanted.

“The governor, in a flagrant abuse of power and in negation of the provisions of the constitution, has declared Linus Okorie, a prominent Nigerian and chieftain of our party, wanted,” he said.

“This, again, is an eloquent pointer to the grave danger Ebonyi and Ebonyi people face; the Nigerian constitution and the criminal justice system clearly outlined procedure for declaring an accused wanted.

“There is nowhere in any laws of Nigeria or any place that state that government or its officials are given such powers.

“We further call on the president, national assembly and the international community to intervene and halt imminent breakdown of constitutional democracy in Ebonyi.”