The Labour Party (LP) has made public the arrest of its national chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, and the state chairman, Mr. Kelly Ogbaloi, by a joint team of police officers and Department of State Security Services (DSS) operatives in Benin City, Edo State. The arrest, captured in a viral video, is closely tied to the upcoming governorship primaries for the November 21, 2024, election. The party alleges that the arrests are politically motivated, citing opposition from the state government to the potential candidate emerging from the primaries.
In a statement released by the national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the LP claimed that Abure was manhandled during the arrest. Additionally, the party asserted that they were denied access to the Zone 5 headquarters of the Police Command in Benin City due to the presence of protesters demanding Abure’s release. In response, the LP contends that the arrests are linked to a protest letter filed by an expelled party member associated with the Apapa dissident camp.
The LP’s outcry shines a light on the intense political landscape in Edo State, as the arrests coincide with the critical pre-election period. With tensions escalating and supporters expressing discontent, the situation surrounding the arrests continues to unfold amidst a heated political climate.
