Julius Abure, Labour Party Chairman arrested in Edo

Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), has been apprehended by law enforcement officers in Benin City, the capital of Edo State. The arrest, which occurred on Wednesday afternoon, was confirmed by Tijani Momoh, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force Zone 5, as reported by Channels Television.

Although details surrounding Abure’s arrest were not disclosed at the time of reporting, viral videos depicted him being physically restrained by the police, while LP supporters attempted to prevent his apprehension.

The LP’s national spokesman, Obiora Ifoh, released a statement confirming Abure’s arrest. According to Ifoh, the party’s chairman, along with governorship aspirants, had participated in a scheduled security briefing with the Department of State Security earlier that day. Subsequently, Abure was arrested by a combined team of DSS and police officers, allegedly leading to the manhandling of Abure, Edo State Chairman Kelly Ogbaloi, and their aides.

Ifoh asserted that the arrest was linked to a protest letter from an expelled party member loyal to the Lamidi Apapa camp. He claimed that the intention behind the arrest was to disrupt the primary process and potentially hinder the party’s participation in the upcoming governorship election.

Despite the challenges, the Deputy National Chairman of the Party, Dr. Ayo Olurunfemi, expressed determination in a video post, stating that no form of intimidation would prevent the party from concluding the process leading to the emergence of the Labour Party government in the state.

The national chairman, Julius Abure, has been entangled in a crisis with the party’s suspended National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara, who accused him of financial malfeasance, forgery, and embezzlement of funds from the 2023 presidential election.

The party has consistently denied these allegations, and LP presidential candidate Peter Obi announced that external auditors would investigate the party’s financial records. Last week, the Labour Party suspended Opara for six months, claiming she was sponsored by individuals seeking to undermine the party.