The crisis rocking the leadership Labour Party (LP) has taken a new turn as the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, was on Wednesday reportedly arrested by security operatives on the strength of a petition written by the Lamidi Apapa led faction of the party.
It was revealed that a factional Youth Leader of the party, Comrade Eragbe Aphimia had petitioned the police alleging that Mr. Abure arranged thugs to attack him in December 2023.
The petition which was addressed to the Edo State Commissioner of Police also alleged that Abure through his cronies tried to thwart the primary election in the party.
The petition reads in part,
“I, Comrade 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 5-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.”
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yunusa Tanko has, however, declined to speak on the issue when our correspondent called to hear the side of the party.
However, a member of the National Working Committee of the party who spoke to FACTSHEET on the condition of anonymity said that “Abure was arrested for diversion of millions of naira of party funds.”