The Imo State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has accused the state governor, Hope Uzodimma of piloting to rig the November governorship election in the state.

The LP made the accusation at a press conference in Owerri, the state capital, on Thursday, while condemning the arrest and brutalization of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, in Owerri

Imo State LP Chairman, Calistus Ihejiagwa, who addressed the press conference, said that Uzodinma was clamping down on all opposing voices, including union leaders, journalists and activists.

According to him, the arrest and brutalization of Ajaero on Wednesday in Owerri had further confirmation that Uzodimma was desperate about his reelection ambition.

He further alleged that the plan by the state government to use N5bn to rent all the hotels in Owerri from November 4 and November 11 was a plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration in the state to use thugs to rig the scheduled governorship election in the state on November 11.

The party, however, demanded the immediate redeployment of the heads of the security agents in the state before the polls, adding that the security chiefs in the state had not hidden their bias for Uzodimma ahead of the election.

Calistus said: “You are not strangers to the atrocious, obnoxious, suppressive and tyrannical occurrences in this Imo State under the current administration of the outgoing Governor Hope Uzodimma.

“You are all also aware of what happened in Owerri yesterday. We wish to unequivocally condemn the Gestapo-like arrest and brutalization of Comrade Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, by thugs allegedly led by state government agents and operatives of the Imo State Police Command.

“Rather than focus on developing sustainable policies, programmes and opportunities that elevate as well as provide a meaningful living to workers and the people, the governor continues to champion discriminatory, divisive, dictatorial and violent policies that depress and dehumanize workers and citizens.

“The latest arrest of Comrade Ajaero calls to mind the destruction at Ikenga Ugochinyere’s home in Akokwa, Ideato North LGA, the abduction of a seasoned journalist, Nonso Nkwa, and several others, including the traditional rulers that have tragically lost their lives in the last three and half years

We hereby draw the attention of the security agencies, INEC and federal authorities to this unfortunate development and insist that steps must be taken to ensure that nothing is done to scuttle or compromise this all-important election in Imo State,” LP said.