The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned Wednesday’s arrest of erstwhile Acting Chairman of the party, Chief Uche Secondus by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Secondus was reportedly picked by operatives of the anti-grant agency and transferred to its headquarters in Abuja over an allegation that he obtained 23 exotic automobiles from a business associate of immediate-past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.
It was gathered that Secondus was subjected to a marathon questioning session of about eight hours to determine the reason behind the gift, which has reportedly sent jitters down the spine of many PDP chieftains who allegedly participated in sharing the largesse.
However, PDP has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of being behind an alleged victimisation of its leaders, in an attempt to turn the country into a one-party state.
This was contained in a Wednesday night statement by the PDP’s National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon.
The statement read: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) laments the oppressive and unfair treatments against its key leaders by the Federal Government.
“The party alerts the nation that the arrest and detention of its Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is part of the grand script by the APC-led Federal Government to decimate the opposition.
“We are also aware that plans have been perfected by the Federal Government to arrest and detain the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio and other leaders of the party on imaginary charges.
“Indeed, intelligence available to the party shows that the Federal Government, using its various agencies, is bent on destroying any opposition to the ruling party as all indications show that the government is more interested in humiliating the PDP than fighting corruption.
“Finally, we state that this war on the PDP and its leaders has indeed gone too far. It has now become a mockery of democratic practice.”