OPERATIVES of the Nigeria Police G Force (NPF), on Wednesday, February 21, in Benin City, the Edo State capital, arrested the National Chairman of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Julius Abure.
Although circumstances leading to his arrest remain unclear at press time, but it may not be unconnected with the ongoing crisis within the party and based on a petition by the party’s Youth Leader, Eragbe Anselm Aphimia.
Aphimia had petitioned the Edo State Commissioner of Police, alleging that he was attacked by some party members in December last year.
The petition addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, dated February 13, this year, read in parts: “I, Eragbe Anselm, write to you with utmost urgency and grave concern regarding a heinous act of violence perpetrated against me on the 29th of December 2023.
“I am a member and National Youth Leader of the Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria and the events I am about to recount are of utmost importance for justice and the safety of individuals involved in political activities.
“On December 28, 2023, I flew into Benin City Airport around 2 p.m. as part of an official five-member delegation authorised by the acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, Alhaji Lamidi Basiru Apapa.
“Our mission was to organise Ward, LGA and State Congresses in Edo State, as well as supervise the sale of nomination forms for various posts, as mandated by INEC guidelines, within the stipulated time frames.
“On arrival at the Benin Airport, I was received by one Mrs. Mary Okheime Newberry, who falsely claimed to be providing transportation and accommodation on behalf of unnamed ‘stakeholders.’
“She proceeded to lodge us at the Smart Homes Hotel, unknown to us that she was plotting a sinister and gruesome ambush. The next morning, a man named Austin Emeka came to pick me and my colleague, Mr. Patrick Anethua, up from the hotel lobby, pretending to take us to a meeting venue.
“Instead, we were violently attacked just outside the hotel gates by a waiting mob.”
While the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, said he was yet to be briefed about the arrest, adding: “As the PPRO of Edo State, I don’t know anything about it. When I am briefed then I can make it public,” spokesperson of Zone 5 Command, Mr. Tijani Momoh, confirmed the development without further details at press time.
Viral videos showed Abure being manhandled by policemen, even as LP supporters fought to stop him from being arrested.
Meanwhile, LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Obiora Ifoh, 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 national chairman only this morning, along with party governorship aspirants, also kept a scheduled security briefing with the Department of the State Service (DSS).
“Abure was, however, arrested after the meeting by a combined team of DSS and Police officers. Abure, state Chairman, Kelly 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 Apapa camp, ostensibly referring to Aphimia, to frustrate the primary and possibly interrupt LP’s participation in the September 21 governorship election.
Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Ayo Olurunfemi, in a video post, vowed that no form of intimidation from the highest quarters would stop the party from concluding the process leading to the emergence of LP government in the state.
Abure has been under immense criticism after being accused of misappropriating about N3.5billion party funds by the now suspended National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara.
His arrest came a few days after state chairmen of the party passed a vote of confidence in him and his executive amid the fraud allegations, which he and the party has dismissed as sponsored by forces outside the party to distabilise it.
