Breaking: Labour Party’s National  Chairman Arrested In Benin City

The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has been arrested by policemen in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

This was confirmed to Channels Television by the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force Zone 5, Tijani Momoh, though he  however, did not disclose details of Abure’s arrest as of press time.

Meanwhile, Viral videos showed Abure being manhandled by policemen, even as LP supporters fought to prevent his arrest.

Also confirming the arrest, a statement signed by the LP national spokesman Obiora Ifoh read, “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 members of the party loyal to Lamidi Apampa 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 realized during the 2023 presidential election.