By Paul Okojie

In the heart of the burstling City of Benin City, where the obedient movement swirled like a tempest, the city is presently tensed as Labour Party prepares for it’s primary election.

The obedient movement seems to pose a threat to gladiators in the Governorship Race as fear of the unknown has lead to many strategies by Stakeholders to distabalised the Party ahead of the Governorship election scheduled for September.

In preparation for the primary, the party held it’s Ward Congress yesterday and results are supposed to be out but over the night , several allegations were leveled against the National Chairman, Barr. Julius Abure as perfecting plans to manipulate the process of the primary.

While awaiting the Congress results, the National Chairman, Barr Julius was arrested by men of the Nigeria Police Force Zone 5 command at Durban hotel in GRA for attempt murder, injurious harm and conspiracy against one Eragbe Anslem sometime last year in Benin City.

According to the AIG Zone 5 Force Public Relation officer, DSP Tijani Momoh, Anslem Eragbe petitioned Julius Abure which was endorsed by the IGP for zone 5 to carry out his arrest.

DSP Momoh explained that why Julius Abure was made to sit on the ground was because those around him were trying to resist the police.

The Force PRO however confirmed the arrest of Julius Abure and two other officers of the Party and said investigation is ongoing and the police will do it’s job.

Speaking with Newsmen, Barr. Ken Immasueagbon who is one of the Governorship Aspirants in Labour Party expressed his displeasure over attempts by some persons within and outside the party to distabalised the leadership of the party with the aim to scuttle the primary election scheduled for February 23rd.

” An injury to one is an injury to all, I am not saying our National Chairman should not be interrogated if there is a petition against him,but the manner in which the Police denigrated his person is absolutely unacceptable. “

” I must tell you, all these are just to distract our primary election? Why did they wait till now before arresting him. We are aware that Barr Olumide Akpata and Governor Godwin Obaseki is behind this drama we are watching”

” I have been contesting Election for 21 years now but I have never seen such desperation like am seeing it now. We are aware that a lot of persons have imported thugs into the state just to cause mayhem against our primary election”

” The police must do their job and release our National Chairman, because the Party primary must hold. Infact , I am tired of all these injustice in Nigeria , for the first time, I hate am a Nigeria and am ready to give my passport out,”

Also Speaking, Prof. Eboh Eromosele, a Governorship Aspirant in Labour Party condemn the arrest of the National Chairman at a time where they are preparing to conduct a free, fair and transparent primary election.

He noted that there are some strange hands trying to run over the party and distabalised Labour Party for fear of the unknown.

“This is a deliberate act to truncate a credible process and we will not allow it to happen”

“Abure is our National Chairman and he and the State Chairman, including the National Secretary has a major role to play in the primary election, so if they are arrested, have those who hatched this plan not succeeded? The Obedient movement is threatened in Edo State and we will not allow it to happen, he said.

However, some of the angry youths who claims to be members of Labour Party and who are also pointing accusing fingers to Barr Olumide Akpata swore that he will never clinch the Party ticket for denigrating the office of the National Chairman.

In a bid to get the reaction of Barr Olumide Akpata ,calls were put to his mobile line but he did not pick.

Also all efforts to get the reaction of the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Media project, Mr. Crusoe Osaigie proved abortive.

While filing this report, news filtered in at the early hours of this morning, that the National Chairman of the Labour Party was released on bail and the State Chairman and Youth Leader was still in Police custody.