The Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has been released on bail by the Nigeria Police Force Zone 5 following his arrest on charges of attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, and related offenses.
Abure, along with four others, was released on Thursday around 2 am, according to police spokesman Tijani Momoh.
The police had initially arrested him in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Wednesday, leading to viral videos showing Abure being manhandled by law enforcement officers while LP supporters attempted to prevent his arrest.
While the police had accused Abure of attempted murder and illegal possession of firearms, LP national spokesman Obiora Ifoh refuted these claims, stating that Abure was not involved in the attack of a former National Youth Leader of the party in Edo State last December. Ifoh emphasized that Abure’s arrest seemed politically motivated, aimed at disrupting the party’s upcoming primary elections in Edo State.
Despite the allegations and turmoil surrounding his arrest, Abure remains defiant. LP spokesman Obiora Ifoh declared that Abure would not step aside from his position despite the attacks against him, indicating a resolve within the party’s leadership.
The LP has been embroiled in internal wrangling, particularly between Abure and the party’s suspended National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara. Opara had accused Abure of financial malfeasance, forgery, and embezzlement of funds from the party’s 2023 presidential election campaign. However, Abure and the party denied these allegations, with LP presidential candidate Peter Obi announcing plans for external auditors to probe the party’s financial records.
