Labour party chairman attacked at Abuja airport, party cries foul

The Labour Party (LP) has raised an alarm after its National Chairman, Julius Abure, was reportedly attacked by a woman at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The incident, which happened on Friday, has sparked outrage within the party, with leaders claiming it was a calculated attempt to intimidate Abure and embarrass the LP.

According to the party, the woman, identified as Precious Oruche, popularly known as “Mama P”, physically confronted Abure while he was waiting to board a Max Air flight to Benin. Witnesses said the chairman had been standing quietly in line when Mama P suddenly walked up to him and started a scuffle.

Labour Party spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, narrated that what began as a brief altercation quickly escalated into a public scene. Flight attendants, passengers, and security operatives were left struggling to contain the situation as Mama P allegedly refused to let go of her target. Ifoh explained that she carried the confrontation into the aircraft, ignoring pleas from flight attendants to calm down. He added that even after the plane landed in Benin, she still continued harassing Abure.

Eyewitnesses described the situation as tense and embarrassing, especially because it involved the leader of a major political party. Some passengers reportedly tried to intervene, but Mama P insisted she would “teach Abure a lesson.” One passenger, Michael, said he initially thought it was a personal misunderstanding until he realised the man being attacked was the Labour Party chairman.

“Everybody knows Abure as a calm person,” he said. “He wasn’t saying anything, but the woman just wouldn’t let go. It was embarrassing to watch, and I felt it was not fair to treat anyone that way, let alone a national party leader.” Another witness, Funke, said she worried about what it meant for Nigeria’s political climate. “If our politicians are not safe in public spaces like airports, then it means ordinary citizens are even more vulnerable. This is not how democracy should be practiced,” she said.

In its official statement, the LP alleged that the incident was not just an ordinary quarrel, but part of a larger plan by “anti-democratic elements” to weaken the party. “This attack was not random. We strongly believe that certain political forces are behind this shameful act, using individuals like Mama P to carry out their dirty work,” the party said. The statement also warned that such attacks could escalate into more dangerous threats if not properly checked, stressing that democracy thrives only when political opponents respect one another.

The Labour Party has faced several internal and external challenges in recent months, from leadership tussles to legal battles. For many party supporters, the attack on Abure adds salt to injury. Political analysts say the incident could deepen existing divisions and further heat up the political atmosphere. Dr Tunde Akintola, a political commentator, said, “It shows how toxic our politics has become. When party leaders are being attacked in public, it signals a breakdown in tolerance and respect for democratic engagement.”

This is not the first time a political leader has faced harassment in public. In recent years, there have been reports of politicians being booed, mobbed, or even assaulted at airports, markets, and other public spaces. Observers say such incidents reflect the growing frustration of Nigerians with political elites, but also highlight the dangers of channelling anger in violent ways.

Human rights lawyer, Barrister Nkiru Eze, warned that allowing such attacks to go unchecked could encourage lawlessness. “Everyone has a right to express dissatisfaction with leaders, but assault is a crime. If people feel free to attack politicians physically, then tomorrow it could escalate into something much worse,” she said.

The Labour Party has called on security agencies to investigate the incident and bring the culprits and their alleged sponsors to book. “We cannot allow a repeat of this ugly scenario,” the party insisted. “Our chairman deserves protection as a citizen and as a political leader. We will not be intimidated.”

So far, there has been no official statement from the police or the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) regarding the altercation. Efforts to reach Mama P for her side of the story also proved unsuccessful.

Beyond the drama of one woman and one politician, the incident highlights deeper issues in Nigeria’s democratic journey: rising intolerance, the weaponisation of anger, and the vulnerability of political actors in public spaces. For Abure, what should have been a routine trip from Abuja to Benin turned into a humiliating experience that raises more questions than answers.

For the Labour Party, it is another reminder of the turbulent road it travels as it tries to establish itself as a credible alternative in Nigeria’s political scene. And for Nigerians watching from the sidelines, it is yet another example of how politics continues to spill over into everyday life in unpredictable and sometimes unsettling ways.