Labour Party Supporters Trade Blame Over Alleged Attack on Julius Abure

Tensions flared among Labour Party (LP) supporters on Saturday after a confrontation broke out at the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The clash centers on accusations between backers of the party’s embattled National Chairman, Julius Abure, and a prominent member of the “Obidient Movement,” Ms. Precious Oruche, popularly known as “Mama P.”

The Obidient Movement is the umbrella body of groups loyal to the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

“Mama P” had alleged in a Facebook post that Abure’s supporters launched an unprovoked attack on her before and after a flight from Abuja to Benin on Friday.

However, Abure’s camp issued a statement signed by factional LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, accusing Oruche of verbally assaulting Abure during the entire trip.

“The leadership of the Labour Party is perplexed by the physical attack on our National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, by agents suspected to be working for anti-democratic elements,” Ifoh said.

He alleged that Oruche confronted Abure while boarding a Max Air flight and “continued the attack all through the duration of the flight, defying all attempts by the flight attendants to calm her.” The situation, he added, escalated on arrival in Benin, drawing a crowd before security operatives intervened.

According to Ifoh, Oruche boasted in one of her recorded videos that her “contacts with the highest police hierarchy” would shield her from consequences. She allegedly vowed never to stop targeting Abure and other LP leaders, claiming, “You have killed Labour Party and you are the reason why Obi is no longer in the Labour Party.”

The LP statement condemned the incident as “cyber bullying and suicidal aggression” and urged the Inspector General of Police to investigate the matter, identify Oruche’s alleged sponsors, and bring them to justice.

“We are calling on members of the Labour Party to be calm, even in the face of this unwarranted provocation, and wait for the outcome of the investigation,” Ifoh said.

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