The Labour Party has confirmed the arrest of its national chairman, Julius Abure in Benin City, the Edo state capital by security operatives.
The national publicity secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh confirmed the arrest of Abure in a statement on Wednesday, February 21.
However, he failed to give details as to why the national chairman was picked up in Benin City.
Ifoh said: “Heavy crowd of protesters on Wednesday besieged the Zone 5 headquarters of the Police Command in Benin City over the arrest of the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure.
“Also arrested was the state chairman of the party, Kelly Ogbaloi.
“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 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.
“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 the Apapa dissident camp.
