Labour Party Confirms Arrest of National Chairman and State Chairman

The Labour Party (LP) has confirmed the arrest of its national chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, and the state chairman of the party, Mr. Kelly Ogbaloi, by a combined team of police officers and operatives of the Department of State Security Services (DSS).

The arrest of Abure was forcefully carried out by security operatives on Wednesday in Benin City, the Edo State capital, as earlier reported by the media.

A video clip capturing his arrest went viral on social media.

This arrest comes barely two days before the party’s governorship primaries for the November 21, 2024, governorship election in the state.

In a statement issued by the party’s national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party expressed concern that Abure was manhandled by the security operatives.

The statement further revealed that a police source confirmed to party officials 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.”

Efforts by party leaders to access the Zone 5 headquarters of the Police Command in Benin City were unsuccessful, as the facility was crowded by protesters demanding the release of Abure.

“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,” Obiora added.