Armed policemen have arrested the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Barrister Julius Abure. He was arrested in Benin City on Wednesday.
Abure faces allegations of embezzling about N3billion of party funds.
The details of his arrest were sketchy as the time of this report. However, images and visuals emerged on social media, showing Abure seated on the floor before he was taken away in a vehicle by the policemen.
The party’s spokesman Obiora Ifoh said in a statement that Edo State LP chairman Kelly Ogbaloi was also arrested.
The statement said, “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.”
Ifoh alleged that the arrest of the party’s officials was in connection to a protest letter by one of the expelled member of the party loyal to Lamidi Apapa camp.
He alleged 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.
