By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
The Edo State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has called for the arrest and prosecution of those behind the attack on the former National Youth leader of the party, comrade Anslem Eragbe and others who were manhandled by group of persons in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
The factional care taker committee chairman of the party, Comrade Ehiwe Iknoyemwen stated this yesterday in Benin City while reacting to the alleged assault on comrade Eragbe by youths suspected to be loyal to Barr. (Dr.) Julius Abure.
The Apapa factional chairman said , Anslem Eragbe is a national leader of the labour Party and also hails from Etsako East LGA of the state .
“We are not aware what he came to do in Edo state , neither were we briefed, but as a free born of the state he has reasons to be here to do what ever he wants”.
“He is a national leader of the Apapa faction of the labour Party.so I don’t think that is enough for the barbaric attack on him to the point that anyone will want to kill him.”
“They have resulted to violence but we are peace loving people and we want labour party to be one.”
We want to use media to tell the people that labour party is one in Edo state.
“Eragbe is a national leader of Apapa faction, we don’t know where he is now whether dead or alive. We call on security agents to please go into this matter by bringing the attackers to book. He was unarmed , defenceless.
“Abure tenure has expired so also the tenure of Ogbolai. Abure was legally restrained by a court of
competence jurisdiction Abuja. He has no legal right to extend his tenure.
“His tenure has expired and so every right thinking labour party member should tell Abure to leave labour party alone.
“In the state level, Agbaloi tenure has expired, he has no right to be there.we a the legally recognized care taker committee, so we are waiting for the normal Congress to come where new exco will be elected.”
Ehiwe Iknoyemwen appealed to the security agents to unveil those behind the attack on comrade Anslem Eragbe.
Also speaking, the 2024 governorship aspirant under the labour party in Edo, comrade Ambassador Eghosa Ugbo, appealed to the security agents and other authorities to call Abure and his factional members to order.
According to Ugbo , “Abure should know that he is no longer the labour party chairman and so he should stop fermenting trouble within the party.
Reacting to the allegations, the State Publicity Secretary (SPS) of the Party, Comrade Sam Uroupa denied the allegation and stated that the leadership of the party in Edo State led by Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi were not responsible for the attack and also knew nothing about the incident.
He asserted that they are law abiding citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who will not indulge in any act of violence.
According to the LP SPS, neither Barr. Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata nor any other aspirants contesting under LP for the Edo 2024 governorship race are involved in the party leadership tussle, hence were never involved in the said attack.
The press statement reads: “The attention of the Edo State Labour Party (LP) has been drawn to a video circulating in sections of the media where the former National Youth Leader and others who have been long expelled from the party were beaten and manhandled by group of persons in Benin City, the Edo State capital.