The leadership of the Labour Party has expressed shock over the forceful arrest of its national chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, by a joint team of police officers and operatives from the Department of State Security (DSS) on Wednesday in Benin, Edo State.
The spokesman of the opposition party, Mr Obiora Ifoh, in a statement, quoting a police source said that Abure’s arrest was in connection to a protest letter by one of the expelled members of the party loyal to Apapa dissident group.
According to him, the arrest was to frustrate the primary process and possibly interrupt the party’s participation in the governorship election in the State.
Part of the statement reads, “On Wednesday, a large crowd gathered outside the Zone 5 offices of the Police Command in Benin City to protest the arrest of Barrister Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
“Kelly Ogbaloi, the party’s state chairman, has also been arrested.
“The Labour Party held a highly successful delegate election in Benin on Tuesday, ahead of the Party Primaries, which are set for Friday.
“The party chairman and party governorship candidates met with the Department of State Security this morning as part of a scheduled security briefing.
“Abure was arrested by a squad of DSS and police officials following the meeting. Abure, Ogbaloi, and their associates were also manhandled.
“Effort by some party leaders to have access to the Zone 5 headquarters was turned down due to the huge crowd of party supporters who were expressing their displeasure over the arrest of Abure.
“However, a Police source informed the party officials and other governorship aspirants at the gate of the police headquarters that the arrest was in connection to a protest letter by one of the expelled members of the party loyal to Apapa dissident camp.
“The source also confirmed that the arrest was not unconnected to the ongoing party primary and the possible candidate that will emerge which the state government is vehemently opposed to.
“He informed 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.”
