Our candidates no longer safe –LP National Chairman, Abure, cries out

…Accuses IG of refusing party police protection

The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Barrister Julius Abure, has cried out for the safety of the leaders, candidates, and members of the party over the incessant killing, assaults, and harassment of its supporters.

He described the attacks as too many and worrisome, adding that his request for police protection had been largely snubbed even when leaders and candidates of other political parties moved around with a detachment of police aides and escorts.

In a statement yesterday, the LP chairman who is saddened over the death of another candidate of the party, Christopher Elehu in the hands of gunmen the suspected hired killers on Friday, recalled the recent killing of the Women Leader of the party in Kaduna State of which no one had been charged to court two months after.

The late Elehu was the LP candidate for the Onuimo constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly. The gunmen were said to have also set Eluhu’s country home ablaze and destroyed his property after killing him.

According to the party’s chairman, “the increased attack on Labour Party members and faithful is now alarming.

Just a few weeks ago, our women leader in Kaura, Kaduna State, was murdered in cold blood with the husband sustaining injuries and still in the hospital. About six weeks ago, the senatorial candidate of our party in Ebonyi State was kidnapped after the police took responsibility for his arrest. This was after days of his incarceration; he is now released without any charges.

His words: “The billboards of all our candidates across the country are being pulled down and destroyed. There are a series of attacks on the party members and leaders across the country, and the mother of it all is the murder of this our candidate in Imo State. 

“We are using this opportunity to call on Mr. President, security agencies, especially the police and DSS to protect Labour Party, its leaders and members.

“Election is not a do-or-die matter. The government must ensure that a level playing field is created for all political parties, both those in power and those out of power. Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the blessed memory once said: ‘Opposition is the soul of democracy. Curled from Sun Newspaper