The cookies are crumbling fast for the Labour Party with the arrest of its National Chairman Barrister Julius Abure, less than forty-eight hours before the conduct of its governorship primary election, slated for Friday, February 23. He was arrested by operatives of the Nigerian Police in Benin City, Edo State, over a petition on attempted murder and alleged fraudulent activity.

Confirming the arrest, Tijani Momoh, spokesperson of the Nigerian Police for Zone 5, Edo state said that the Labour Party Chairman was arrested over a petition forwarded to the office of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun in a case of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit dangerous harm, adding that he was also in possession of firearms and live ammunition during the arrest.

Mr. Momoh further stated that the LP chairman’s arrest was authorized by the Assistant Inspector of Police, Benin, who was acting according to the order given by the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun. He further explained that the police have already begun their investigation into the petition filed against the LP chairman as he was remanded in custody.

“I wish to confirm the arrest of the factional chairman of the Labour Party, Mr Julius Abure, and I think three or four others due to a written petition that was endorsed to the AIG Benin from the office of the inspector-general of police,” Momoh said.

“So based on that petition he was arrested and the investigation is ongoing. He was also in possession of a firearm; a shotgun and three rounds of live ammunition. All details will be provided as the investigation continues.

“Some policemen or some people that were assigned to him tried to prevent the police from carrying out a lawful arrest. The police have powers to carry out lawful arrests and some people tried to prevent the police from doing that,” he said

Reacting to the arrest, The Labour Party National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh in a statement, said the petition filed against the party chairman was written by an expelled member of the party who is loyal to the Lamidi Apapa-faction to frustrate the upcoming primary election.

He further indicated that the party had already had a successful delegate election on Tuesday, while Mr Abure was preparing for the party’s primary election in the state which is holding on Friday, adding that he had already had a meeting with the governorship aspirants today before the incident happened.

He explained that efforts of some party leaders to gain access to the Zone 5 headquarters were denied due to the large crowd of party supporters expressing their displeasure with Abure’s arrest.

“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.

“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 with a protest letter by one expelled member of the party loyal to Apapa dissidents’ 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”, the statement concluded.

Mr Julius Abure has come under fire for allegedly misappropriating N3.5 billion from form sales and fundraising activities leading up to the 2023 elections. The party treasurer, Oluchi Opara who accused Abure said there was no measure to hold him accountable, hence, the need for public exposure.