Precious Oruche, an activist popularly known as “Mama P” and a strong supporter of the ‘Obidient’ movement, reportedly confronted Julius Abure, the factional chairman of the Labour Party (LP), on Friday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The clash occurred while both were waiting to board a Max Air flight to Benin, the Edo State capital.

Mama P accused Abure of “destroying the Labour Party” and being responsible for Peter Obi’s perceived disengagement from the party, citing the ongoing internal wranglings and leadership crisis within the LP.

According to a statement released on Saturday by Obiora Ifoh, the national publicity secretary of the Abure-led faction, Abure was allegedly assaulted by Oruche. Ifoh claimed the confrontation continued even during the flight, despite efforts by the cabin crew to restore calm. The incident reportedly spilled over to Benin Airport, where security operatives escorted Abure to safety and handed Oruche over to the police.

The LP faction further alleged that Oruche, also a content creator, later released a video boasting of her “strong police connections” and vowing to continue targeting Abure and other LP executives. Ifoh described the episode as “suicidal aggression”, accusing “anti-democratic forces” of sponsoring Oruche, and called on the police to investigate.

However, Oruche presented a different account in videos she shared online. She claimed that after confronting Abure, she was attacked by “thugs” allegedly sent by him, who assaulted her and even threatened her with a gun. A video of her initial confrontation with Abure at the airport has also surfaced online, fueling further debate.

Following the clash, Oruche was detained by the Edo State Police Command at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Benin. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator and interim Chairman of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, confirmed her detention in an X post, urging for legal support and solidarity in securing her release.

The incident adds a new layer of tension to the prolonged Labour Party leadership tussle, where rival factions continue to battle over the chairmanship despite previous Supreme Court rulings.