APP Slams Airport Restriction of Leader

The Imo State chapter of the Action People’s Party (APP) has launched a blistering verbal assault on the administration of Governor Hope Uzodinma, accusing the state government of employing “political pettiness” and intimidation. The outcry follows a Tuesday incident at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, where the party’s leader, Mazi Chima Matthew Amadi, was allegedly barred from using the facility’s private wing. According to the APP, the restriction was not a mere logistical error but a deliberate, state-orchestrated move to harass a prominent opposition figure.

The party claims that agents of the state government acted on direct orders from the Governor to prevent Amadi from accessing the premium section of the airport. The encounter reportedly took place in the presence of Hon. Matthew Nwogu, the federal lawmaker representing Ngor Okpala/Aboh Mbaise, who had shared a flight with the APP leader. Witnesses noted that the exclusion felt targeted, transforming a routine travel procedure into a theater of political friction between the ruling party and the opposition.

In a strongly worded statement issued by the State Publicity Secretary, Cajetan Duke, the APP described the government’s actions as “laughable and profoundly condescending.” Rather than viewing the restriction as a setback, the party flipped the narrative, asserting that Amadi’s character is better suited for the public wing of the airport. They argued that being forced to mingle with everyday citizens aligns perfectly with his commitment to the people, effectively mocking the government’s attempt to cause him discomfort.

The APP further alleged that this move is a symptom of deep-seated insecurity within the current administration. By relying on “brute force” and “coercion” to handle political rivals, the party believes the Uzodinma government is signaling its own weakness. The statement characterized the incident as the desperate actions of a “drowning government” that has lost the intellectual argument with the citizenry and now clings to small-scale harassment to maintain a sense of control.

This latest development is not being viewed by the opposition as an isolated event. Instead, the APP linked the airport restriction to a broader, “worrying pattern” of state-sponsored suppression. They specifically referenced a recent attempt to disrupt a civic reception held in honor of Rt. Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, another high-profile critic of the state government. By connecting these dots, the APP is painting a picture of an administration that is systematically targeting voices of dissent across the state.

The party’s rhetoric reached a fever pitch as it condemned what it called “political banditry and brigandage.” The APP leadership expressed concern that the state’s energy and resources are being squandered on monitoring the movements of opposition leaders rather than addressing the existential crises facing Imo State residents. They demanded an immediate shift in focus, urging the Governor to prioritize the security and welfare of the people over the settling of personal or political scores.

Cajetan Duke’s statement listed several areas where the state is allegedly falling short, including infrastructure, healthcare, and the creation of economic opportunities. The APP argued that the time spent orchestrating airport bans could be better used to rebuild broken roads or revive the dying health sector. They accused the administration of having “dangerously misplaced” priorities, suggesting that the government is more concerned with the optics of power than the substance of governance.

Despite what they describe as “juvenile displays of power,” the APP insists that it remains undaunted. The party sent a clear message to its supporters that no amount of state-sponsored intimidation would silence their critique or weaken their resolve. They called on the international community and advocates of democracy to take note of the “reflexive” use of state power against opponents in Imo, framing it as a threat to the democratic fabric of the nation.

The situation at Sam Mbakwe Airport has now become a rallying point for the opposition in the state. By portraying Amadi as a man of the people who is unbothered by being pushed into the public wing, the APP is attempting to turn a moment of state-enforced exclusion into a populist victory. They maintain that the more the government tries to suppress them, the more the public will see the administration as one that has failed its primary duties.

As political tensions continue to rise in Imo, the APP has called for a “redirection of focus” toward the pressing needs of the people. They believe that the residents of Imo deserve a government that values progress over grudge-holding. For now, the party stands in solidarity with all those who face harassment for their political views, promising to continue its work in the face of what it calls “political rascality.”