The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, found himself in police custody in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, following his arrest on a Wednesday afternoon.
Tijani Momoh, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force Zone 5, acknowledged the incident without providing specific details about Abure’s arrest at that time.
Videos circulating online depicted Abure being physically restrained by the police, while supporters of the LP actively resisted his apprehension.
The LP’s national spokesman, Obiora Ifoh, officially confirmed Abure’s arrest in a statement. Additionally, Kelly Ogbaloi, the Edo State Chairman of the party, was mentioned in connection with the unfolding events.
He said, “The Labour Party on Tuesday had a very successful delegate election in Benin ahead of the Party Primaries scheduled to hold on Friday.
“The party chairman only this morning along with party governorship aspirants also kept a scheduled security briefing with the Department of the State Security.
“Abure was however arrested after the meeting by a combined team of DSS and Police officers. Abure, Ogbaloi and their aides were also manhandled.”
Ifoh alleged that the arrest of the party’s officials was in connection to a protest letter by one of the expelled member of the party loyal to Lamidi Apapa camp.
He alleged that the arrest was to frustrate the primary process and possibly interrupt the party’s participation in the governorship election.
“The Deputy National Chairman of the Party, Dr. Ayo Olurunfemi in video post said that no form of intimidation from the highest quarters can stop the party from concluding the process leading to the emergence of the Labour Party government in the state,” the statement concluded.
The party’s national chairman has been embroiled in a crisis with the party’s suspended National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara, who accused Abure of financial malfeasance, forgery and embezzlement of the party’s funds realised during the 2023 presidential election.
Abure and the party had denied the allegations even as Opara insisted that the national chairman should account for both naira and dollar donations to the party in the last poll.
LP presidential candidate in the last poll, Peter Obi, had said external auditors would probe the party’s financial books.
