The Civic Action for Democracy (CAD) has hailed a High Court order in Imo State restraining the police and other parties from arresting, harassing or contacting Collins Opurozor, an aide to Governor Hope Uzodimma, describing the ruling as a victory for freedom of expression and democratic rights. The group accused Chima Matthew Amadi, APP Imo East Senstorial candidate of attempting to use the police to intimidate critics of his political ambitions.
In a press conference in Owerri on Saturday and signed by its Executive Director, Mazi Franklin Ngoforo, CAD said the court order specifically covered the Nigeria Police Force Cybercrime Centre in Abuja, Amadi and other persons named in the order. The group commended the judiciary for intervening, arguing that political aspirants must tolerate scrutiny and respond to criticism with facts rather than resort to law enforcement agencies to settle political disagreements.
CAD accused Amadi of double standards, alleging that he had freely criticised Uzodimma and his administration while seeking to use the police against Opurozor for questioning his political record and ambitions. The organisation argued that the incident raised concerns about how Amadi would handle public accountability if elected to office, insisting that citizens had the right to interrogate the antecedents of politicians seeking their votes.
The group also questioned Amadi’s political ambitions, questioning how he was pursuing both the Owerri Zone Senate seat and the Imo governorship. It further claimed that his political associates had also been involved in efforts to weaken the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure in Imo State despite alleged assurances of support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The organisation commended Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu for his leadership and urged him to ensure that the police cybercrime unit was not used to pursue political grievances. It also called for scrutiny of the conduct of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police heading the centre, alleging possible misuse of the agency against political opponents.
CAD vowed to resist what it described as political intimidation ahead of the 2027 elections, urging the media, civil society organisations and professional bodies to defend citizens’ rights to question political leaders and aspirants. “You cannot intimidate your way to power in Imo State,” the group declared, warning that it would oppose attempts to silence critics through state institutions.
