By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Labour Party (LP), has alleged that its National Chairman, Julius Abure, was physically attacked by a woman at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Friday, describing the incident as a politically motivated attempt to intimidate him and destabilize the party.
According to the LP, the woman, identified as Precious Oruche, popularly known as Mama P, confronted Abure while he awaited a Max Air flight to Benin.
Eyewitnesses said the altercation quickly escalated, attracting the attention of passengers, flight attendants, and airport security.
The party further alleged that Mama P pursued Abure onto the plane and continued the confrontation until the flight landed in Benin.
LP spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, condemned the incident, insisting it was more than a random altercation.
“This was a coordinated act aimed at harassing and embarrassing our chairman. We believe certain anti-democratic forces are behind it,” he said.
Passengers described the incident as tense and embarrassing. One eyewitness, Michael, said, “At first, I thought it was a personal issue, but then I realized it was the Labour Party chairman. It was disturbing to see him treated that way.”
Another witness, Funke, warned that the safety of political leaders and by extension citizens was increasingly at risk.
The party has called on security agencies to investigate and bring those responsible to book.
“Abure deserves protection, not humiliation. We cannot allow political violence to become normalized,” the LP stated.
Human rights lawyer, Barr. Nkiru Eze, echoed the concerns, cautioning that unchecked assaults on political leaders could erode democratic norms.
“Violence is not protest. If this continues, it could lead to dangerous outcomes,” she warned.
Political analyst, Dr. Tunde Akintola, added that the incident underscored Nigeria’s rising political toxicity.
As of press time, neither the police nor the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), had commented on the matter. Attempts to reach Mama P for a response were unsuccessful.
The Labour Party, already grappling with internal disputes and legal battles, views the incident as another attempt to undermine its stability.
The confrontation has also reignited debate over the safety of political actors, the boundaries of dissent, and the growing fragility of Nigeria’s democratic space.
