Former Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has reacted to the recent arrest of the Chairman of the Party, Mr. Julius Abure. On Wednesday, Mr. Abure was arrested by heavily armed Police Officers over charges of ‘Illegal Possession of Firearms’ and ‘Threat to Life’ after a petition was filed against him by a Factional Youth leader of the Party.

Reacting to the development, Mr. Obi wrote on social media, “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, earlier today in Benin City, Edo state.”

He went on to emphasize the importance of upholding the rule of law in any sane society. He further stated that citizens, irrespective of their status in society, are all duty-bound to respond to invitations from properly constituted authority. Mr. Obi condemned the deplorable actions of the police officers involved in the arrest of Mr. Abure, which he described as undesirable, demeaning, and unequivocally intolerable. He called for the condemnation of such behavior and urged that it should be actively addressed to uphold the principles of justice and respect for the dignity of the individual within our society.

Regarding the circumstances surrounding Mr. Abure’s arrest, Mr. Obi emphasized that while constitutional authorities must be allowed to execute their statutory functions, officers must adhere to due process, civility, decency, and established arrest procedures. He further stated that officers must embody civility, decorum, respect for the dignity and rights of citizens, and, above all, the presumption of innocence before the law.

As a leader within the Labour Party, Mr. Abure represents, both personally and statutorily, as the incumbent Chairman of the LP, the face of political opposition in Nigeria. Political Parties are institutions of democratic statehood and ought to that extent be accorded due respect. Mr. Obi urged that Mr. Abure should be granted bail based on his status while the investigation into his alleged offense continues.