Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has condemned the arrest of the party’s national chairman, Julius Abure, describing it as “distasteful” and “humiliating.”
In a statement shared on his X account on Wednesday night, Obi expressed his dismay over the manner in which Abure was arrested, particularly highlighting the alleged dehumanizing act of making him sit on the floor.
“As a former Governor and Presidential candidate, I consistently advocated for upholding the rule of law,” Obi wrote. “While citizens are duty-bound to respond to authority, the distressing image of our National Chairman lying on the ground during his arrest is undesirable and must be condemned.”
Obi emphasized the importance of respecting the rights of individuals, regardless of their status, and called for Abure’s bail based on his position as the face of political opposition in Nigeria.
“The arrest of Abure, along with others, for various charges including conspiracy and attempted murder, should not be used as a pretext to stifle political opposition,” Obi continued. “I urge that he be granted bail while investigations continue.”
Abure was later released on bail on Thursday morning, as confirmed by Assistant Inspector General of Police, Arungwa Nwazule, who cited multiple charges against him and others.
