The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed his dismay over the arrest of the LP National Chairperson, Julius Abure, describing it as "demeaning and intolerable".
Mr Abure was arrested on Wednesday in Benin City, Edo State, by police operatives from Zone 5 Benin for alleged attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, and other offences.
Footage of the arrest, which has since gone viral, showed Mr Abure being manhandled by police officers as party supporters fought to resist his arrest. Reacting to the arrest on his X handle, Mr Obi condemned the actions of the police officers, stating that they "epitomise the pinnacle of rascality and serve to egregiously tarnish the already regrettable perception of our nation as one plagued by lawlessness."
Mr Obi emphasised the need to uphold the principles of justice and respect for individual dignity within society. He said, "Such behaviour must not only be denounced but also actively addressed to uphold the principles of justice and respect for the dignity of the individual within our society."
He further highlighted the role of Mr Abure as a leader within the Labour Party, representing both personally and statutorily, the face of political opposition in Nigeria. He added, "Most importantly, political parties are institutions of democratic statehood and ought to that extent be accorded due respect."
Mr Obi warned against any pretext to stifle opposition in the country and demanded that Mr Abure be granted bail based on his status while the investigation of the alleged offences could go on.
The LP held ward congresses on Tuesday to elect delegates ahead of its governorship primary scheduled for Friday. However, the arrest of Mr Abure and the Edo State chairperson of the party, Kelly Ogbaloi, has cast a shadow over these proceedings.
The national spokesperson of LP, Obiora Ifoh, disclosed that Mr Abure had honoured a scheduled security meeting with the State Security Service (SSS) in Benin on Wednesday morning, but was arrested after the meeting by a combined team of SSS and police officers.
Mr Ifoh alleged that the arrest was intended to frustrate the primary process and possibly interrupt the party's participation in the governorship election. He said, "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."
This incident underscores the challenges faced by political parties in Nigeria and highlights the need for due process and respect for the rule of law in the country's political landscape.