… as party fumes, says attack sponsored
Labour Party has raised the alarm following a physical attack on its National Chairman, Julius Abure, by a woman identified as Precious Oruche, popularly known as Mama P, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Following the incident, which occurred on Friday, the party leadership accused “anti-democratic elements” of sponsoring the assault.
Labour Party’s spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh in a statement, on Saturday, said Abure was quietly standing in the queue to board a Max Air flight to Benin when Mama P suddenly pounced on him.
The LP said she continued the confrontation onboard, ignoring pleas from flight attendants to calm down, and even carried it on after the flight landed in Benin.
“The attacker, Madam P, who is also a known content creator, continued the attack all throughout the duration of the flight, defying all attempts by the Max Air flight attendants to calm her. The assault, which attracted a large number of onlookers, continued on disembarkation at the Benin Airport while she kept recording the scene,” he said.
It was learnt that it took the intervention of security operatives at the airport to whisk Abure to safety while the woman was handed over to the police.
What shocked the party more was a video later released by the woman, where she allegedly boasted of her connections.
“In one of her films released, the lady claimed that she has contacts with the highest police hierarchy, boasted that nothing will happen to her, and vowed that she will not stop attacking Abure or any member of the Labour Party executive because, according to her, ‘you have killed Labour Party and you are the reason why Obi is no longer in the Labour Party,’” the statement read.
The party leadership did not hide its anger, calling the incident “a suicidal aggression” against Abure and insisting it was politically motivated.
“We sincerely believe that the lady-agent was on an assignment to accomplish the desires of her paymasters. Assault and cyber-bullying are severe crimes under our laws, and we think that the Police must fish out her sponsors and cohorts, and bring them to book,” Ifoh said.
The Labour Party urged its members not to retaliate but to remain calm while awaiting the outcome of police investigations.
“We are calling on members of the Labour Party to be calm, even in the face of this unwarranted provocation, and wait for the outcome of the investigation into the unprovoked attack against the leadership of the party,” the statement added.
Since gaining prominence around the 2023 elections, boosted by Peter Obi’s campaign and the Obidient movement, Julius Abure has faced serious challenges to his leadership of the Labour Party.
There have been court rulings, including by the Court of Appeal, affirming his position, but also a Supreme Court ruling in April 2025 that raised questions over the legality of his continued tenure.
Multiple factions have claimed leadership, and there has been tension over the interpretation of the party constitution, the timing of conventions, and the role of caretaker committees.
