Ebonyi Democratic Movement Threatens Nationwide Protest Over Detention of Opposition Members

The Ebonyi Democratic Movement (EDM) has threatened to mobilise one million Nigerians for a peaceful national protest at the Force Headquarters in Abuja over the alleged prolonged detention without trial of opposition members in Ebonyi State.

The group, in a press release issued on Wednesday and signed by its Chairman, Chief Igwe Emmanuel Chidi, condemned what it described as a threat to democratic freedoms, the rule of law and the fundamental rights of citizens.

It specifically expressed concern over the reported detention of Mrs Chinyere Nwele, the Ebonyi State Woman Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam, who it said had remained in detention for over a month.

The movement also called for urgent clarification from the relevant authorities regarding the reported disappearance of Mr Jimoh Abu, proprietor of Jimoh Hotels, Abakaliki, including his whereabouts and the circumstances surrounding his alleged disappearance.

The EDM maintained that it did not support corruption, embezzlement of public funds, cyberstalking, cyberbullying or any other criminal conduct, stressing that anyone suspected of an offence should be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

However, it warned that allegations should not be treated as convictions, insisting that every citizen was entitled to the constitutional presumption of innocence and protection against indefinite detention.

The group further alleged that some opposition members, particularly PDP members, were being confronted with multiple criminal charges before magistrates' courts that might lack jurisdiction over the substantive offences.

According to the movement, such a practice could prolong detention while proceedings before courts with appropriate jurisdiction, where bail applications could be considered, were allegedly being avoided.

It warned that if established, such actions would amount to an abuse of the judicial process and the manipulation of the criminal justice system for political purposes.

The EDM urged the Ebonyi State Government and security agencies to respect political pluralism and ensure that opposition members were not treated as enemies of the state because of their political affiliations.

Among its demands, the group called for an immediate clarification of Jimoh Abu's whereabouts, an urgent review of the detention of Nwele, Mbam and other detained opposition members, and the prompt arraignment of anyone facing prosecution before courts of competent jurisdiction within the time prescribed by law.

It also called on security agencies to refrain from actions that could be interpreted as political persecution, intimidation or selective enforcement of the law.

The movement warned that failure to address its demands would trigger a peaceful, lawful and coordinated national protest involving what it described as one million Nigerians at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

It said the planned protest would seek the intervention of the Inspector-General of Police, an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the reported detentions and the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State to facilitate an impartial investigation and restore public confidence in the police command.

The group added that it was prepared to mobilise civil society organisations, human rights defenders, political stakeholders and other concerned Nigerians to demand accountability.

It also called on the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Bar Association and other democratic institutions to investigate the developments and ensure the protection of the fundamental rights of the affected persons.

The EDM reiterated that while it did not condone criminality, it would oppose any alleged use of criminal charges to intimidate or suppress political opponents.