Mr. Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General Elections, has voiced his dissatisfaction with the manner in which Nigeria Police operatives conducted the arrest of the party’s National Chairman, Mr. Julius Abure, on Wednesday.
In a statement posted on his X handle platform, Obi expressed concern about the arrest and emphasized that there could have been a more appropriate way to handle the situation, considering the principles of democracy. He stated, “Like many Nigerians, I observed the distasteful national television news reports detailing the humiliating arrest of the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure, in Benin City, Edo.”
Obi, known for consistently advocating for upholding the rule of law, acknowledged the duty of citizens to respond to invitations from properly constituted authorities. However, he strongly condemned the distressing image of the National Chairman lying on the ground during the arrest, describing the act as “undesirable and unequivocally intolerable.”
Describing the manner of the arrest as deplorable, Obi emphasized the need to denounce and actively address such practices to uphold the principles of justice and respect within Nigerian society. He called for officers to adhere to due process and established arrest procedures, embodying civility, decorum, and respect for the dignity and rights of citizens.
Obi underscored the importance of recognizing Mr. Abure’s role as a leader within the Labour Party and emphasized that officers must uphold the presumption of innocence in their actions. Despite the circumstances surrounding Abure’s arrest, which involved attempted murder and conspiracy to commit dangerous harm, Obi stressed the need for authorities to handle such cases with civility and respect for citizens’ rights.
It is worth noting that Abure and other LP party members who were arrested have since been released. The police spokesperson, Tijani Momoh, clarified that there was no assault on the LP national chairman during the arrest, and the altercation arose when some individuals attempted to prevent the arrest.
