By Kamsi Anayo
The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has been arrested by operatives of the Nigerian Police Force.
Abure who was arrested in Edo state on Wednesday, is being accused of fraud and other financial crimes.
The LP Chairman was arrested by operatives from Zone 5 Police headquarters, GRA, in Benin, Edo State.
A viral video shows police officers forcibly handling Abure while some LP supporters tried to prevent his arrest.
The Network gathered that Abure was arrested because of a petition against him which was forwarded to Zone 5 from the Inspector General of Police in Abuja.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Zone, Tijani Momoh, confirmed the arrest of Abure to journalists.
He said, “There is a standing order for now that nobody should come in.
“Yes, the Labour Party National Chairman is here and it has to do with a petition that was referred to this office from the Inspector General of Police.
“It was referred to Zone 5 from the IG’s office, he is with us but I cannot give the contents of the petition right now.”
It was gathered that his arrest was the result of a petition forwarded to the Zone from the office of the Inspector General of Police in Abuja.
Abure was captured in viral a video being forcibly handled by police officers, while his supporters from the LP party tried to intervene to stop his arrest.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Zone, Tijani Momoh, said, “There is a standing order for now that nobody should come in.
“Yes, the Labour Party National Chairman is here and it has to do with a petition that was referred to this office from the Inspector General of Police.
“It was referred to Zone 5 from the IG’s office, he is with us but I cannot give the contents of the petition right now.”
The LP Chairman has been at the centre of a crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the party over allegations of substituting candidates in the 2023 general election without the consent of the affected aspirants.
Abure who denies the allegation had been under criticism for alleged misapplication of party funds.