The Edo State chapter of the Labour Party has denied any involvement in the manhandling of the former National Youth Leader, Anslem Eragbe in the state.
On Friday, Eragbe and one other person suspected to be a member of the Lamidi Apapa’s faction of the LP were said to have been apprehended by supporters of the party in the state following their alleged plans to conduct a primary election for LP candidates ahead of the 2024 governorship election in Edo State.
In a viral video that went into circulation in Benin, some of the party supporters were seen beating the two suspects for coming into the state for the alleged clandestine motive.
The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Samson Uroupa, described the suspects as imposters who were hell-bent on creating trouble in the party
However, a statement on Sunday by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Sam Uroupa, said the party was law-abiding and would never engage in such acts.
The statement read, “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, Anslem Eragbe and others who have been long expelled from the party were beaten and manhandled by a group of persons in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
“One Mr. Abayomi Arabambi alleged that the Edo State LP members led by the State Publicity Secretary, Comrade Sam Uroupa were responsible, and also fingered an aspirant, Barr. Olumide Akpata.
“We wish to categorically state that the Edo State LP as led by its Chairman, distinguished Comr. Kelly Ogbaloi was not responsible and knew nothing about the attack as they are law-abiding citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who will not indulge in any act of violence.
“Olumide Akpata and any other aspirants going for the Edo 2024 governorship race have no business with any leadership tussle of the party hierarchy, hence were never involved in the said attack.
“On the issue of factional leadership in LP, as claimed by Mr. Abayomi, we in Edo have long passed that stage of which is the authentic and fake faction. This is because the Supreme Court has graciously laid that to rest that Barr. Julius Abure is the authentic National Chairman of the Party.
“The former National Youth Leader and his cohorts were deeply financed by the APC as moles to destabilise LP. Since they couldn’t deliver, they must have also sent persons to come and collect their money back. Therefore, associating his ordeal to Edo State LP members is completely false and baseless”.