The Labour Party has expressed outrage following reports that a woman known as Precious Oruche, also referred to as Mama P, violently assaulted Julius Abure, the party’s national chairman, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The party leadership has accused “anti-democratic elements” of funding the attack, which took place on Friday.
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Julius Abure was silently waiting to board a Max Air trip to Benin when Mama P unexpectedly jumped on him, according to a statement released on Saturday and signed by Obiora Ifoh, the spokeswoman for the Labour Party.
Ifoh claimed that despite the flight attendants’ entreaties to settle down, she persisted in the altercation on board and even after the plane touched down 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.
According to reports, security personnel at the airport had to step in and take Abure to safety as the woman was turned over to the police.
The woman’s later-released video, in which she purportedly boasted of her connections, startled the guests even more.
“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 made no secret of their ire, claiming that the incident was politically motivated and referring to Julius Abure as the victim of “a suicidal aggression.”
“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.
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Julius Abure’s leadership of the Labour Party has been seriously challenged since he rose to prominence around the 2023 elections, helped by Peter Obi’s campaign and the Obidient movement.
Although the Court of Appeal and other courts have upheld his status, the Supreme Court’s April 2025 decision called into question whether his continuing tenure was lawful.
Tension has arisen over the interpretation of the party constitution, the scheduling of conventions, and the function of caretaker committees, and several groups have asserted leadership.
