A routine journey at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja descended into chaos and political drama when Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, was allegedly physically assaulted by a woman identified as Precious Oruche, popularly known as Mama P.
The incident, which occurred on Friday, has ignited a firestorm of accusations and counter-accusations, with the Labour Party leadership vehemently claiming the attack was a politically motivated ambush orchestrated by “anti-democratic elements” seeking to destabilize the party.
According to a detailed statement signed by the party’s spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh on Saturday, the confrontation began unexpectedly as Abure was quietly standing in line to board a Max Air flight to Benin.
In a scene that disrupted the ordinary hum of airport routine, Mama P reportedly “pounced on him,” initiating a confrontation that would not be contained. The altercation escalated dramatically onboard the aircraft, where the woman, described as a known content creator, allegedly continued her tirade against the chairman.
Ifoh stated that she defied repeated pleas from flight attendants to calm down, creating a spectacle that attracted the attention of fellow passengers. The situation persisted even after the flight landed in Benin, with the assailant reportedly continuing the assault during disembarkation while simultaneously recording the scene on her phone, amplifying the humiliation and ensuring the incident would play out in the court of public opinion.
The party’s shock was compounded hours later with the release of a video by the woman. In the footage, she allegedly boasted of her connections with the highest echelons of the police hierarchy, confidently asserting that no consequences would befall her. She further vowed to continue targeting Abure and other Labour Party executives, justifying her actions by claiming, “you have killed Labour Party and you are the reason why Obi is no longer in the Labour Party.”
This statement directly links the attack to the deep-seated internal fractures and lingering resentment within the party following Peter Obi’s departure. The Labour Party has labeled the incident a “suicidal aggression” and insists that Mama P was merely an agent sent to accomplish the desires of shadowy paymasters. They have called on the police to not only prosecute her but also to “fish out her sponsors and cohorts,” treating the matter as a severe case of assault and cyber-bullying.
This airport altercation is more than an isolated scuffle; it is a stark manifestation of the profound turmoil engulfing the Labour Party. Since its meteoric rise during the 2023 elections, fueled by the Obidient movement, the party has been plagued by leadership crises.
Abure’s position has been both affirmed by court rulings and challenged by others, including a recent Supreme Court ruling that raised questions about his tenure’s legality. With multiple factions vying for control and internal disputes over party conventions and constitutions, the attack on Abure underscores the volatile and contentious atmosphere.
While the party leadership has urged its members to remain calm and await police investigation, the incident on the airport tarmac has laid bare the intense pressures and simmering conflicts that threaten to tear the party apart from within.
