The Labour Party (LP) has raised the alarm as thugs, police allegedly invade their national secretariat in Abuja.
Labour Party has thus made a case for opposition parties in Nigeria to respect the rights and privileges of others to contest for elections in the country. Mr Julius Abure, the LP National Chairman, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
Abure alleged that thugs sponsored by some politicians and escorted by policemen invaded the party’s national secretariat in Utako, Abuja, destroying property worth billions. He said that in the process the invaders sacked workers and party members who were at the Secretariat.
“Though, I was out of town but information has it that the agenda of the Invaders was to inaugurate an illegitimate executive which has been chosen for them by their sponsors.
“This incident is coming days after a similar invasion in our Imo Secretariat which up till now is still being occupied by the agents of the Imo Government.
“Only yesterday, our presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi through the Presidential Campaign Council alerted Nigerians of plot to hound him out of the country.
“This ,he said is over opposition’s covert plot in collaboration with some security agents to frame him up allegedly on matters bothering on treason,” he said.
Abure said that the LP was not the only political party contesting for power in Nigeria.
He said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted the Feb 25 general elections which placed the LP third, a position rejected by the party which had approached the tribunal to contest the results.
“That is our only offence. “
Abure called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and call the opposition to order and also to restrain it from using unorthodox means to suffocate the political structure in Nigeria.
Abure said that a court of competent jurisdiction had ordered that he remained the LP National Chairman and should not be restrained from performing his duties.
” It therefore baffles me why the police should allow themselves to be used to perpetrate illegalities.
“We advice the police, the opposition and their sponsors to play by the rules.
“We will no longer tolerate the often intimidation and deployment of brute forces against the party and its personnel,” he said.
Full Statement of Mr Julius Abure, Labour Party (LP) National Chairman:
THUGS, POLICEMEN ATTACK, BREAK INTO LABOUR PARTY NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, CHASE AWAY WORKERS
Few minutes ago, the national headquarters of the Labour Party in Abuja witnessed massive attack and was broken into by a detachment of the Nigerian Police and thugs believed to be working for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The Invaders who are armed reportedly pulled down the fences, burglaries, doors and window to have access to our Secretariat and in the process sacked workers and party members who were at the Secretariat.
Though, I was out of town but information has it that the agenda of the Invaders was to inaugurate an illegitimate executive which has been chosen for them by their sponsors.
This incident is coming days after a similar invasion in our Imo state Secretariat which up till now is still being occupied by the agents of the Imo state government.
Only yesterday, our Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi through the Presidential Campaign Council alerted Nigerians of plot to hound him out of the country over APC’s covert plot in collaboration with some security agents to frame him up allegedly on matters bothering on treason.
Labour Party is only a political party which is contesting for power. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC having conducted election ranked us third, a position we have rejected and have approached the Tribunal to contest. That is our only offence.
We therefore call on President Muhammadu Buhari to call his party, the APC to order and also rein then in from using unorthodox means to suffocate political structures in Nigeria.
A court of competent jurisdiction only yesterday ordered that I, Julius Abure remains the National Chairman, and should not be restrained from performing my duties, it therefore baffles me why the Nigerian Police should allow itself to be used to perpetrate illegalities.
We advice the Police, APC and their sponsors to play by the rules. We will no longer tolerate the often intimidation and deployment of brute forces against the party and their personnel. We demand they put a stop to abuse of power and respect the rights and privileges of other political parties, particularly, the Labour Party to contest for power.
Signed
Barrister Julius Abure
National Chairman
Labour Party.
06-04-2023
