Labour Party Faction Accuses Rivals of Forcefully Taking Over Secretariat

A faction of the Labour Party led by its former National Chairman, Julius Abure, has condemned what it described as the forceful invasion and takeover of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Abure faction accused Senator Nenadi Usman who leads an opposing faction and the Abia State Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, of orchestrating an early morning seizure of the party’s Utako headquarters.

The party’s factional National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, alleged that unidentified persons, accompanied by a heavy police presence, stormed the building around 1 a.m., removed billboards bearing Abure’s image, and replaced them with those of Usman.

“The invasion, aided by eight truckloads of policemen, denied officers and staff of the party access,” Ifoh stated, further claiming that files and other materials were carted away.

The Abure faction acknowledged a recent Federal High Court judgment that recognised Usman as the party’s interim chairman but emphasized that the ruling has been appealed and a stay of execution obtained.

“It is therefore inappropriate and unnecessary for any group to resort to self-help by forcefully breaking into the national secretariat,” the statement added.

The group called on security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services, to intervene, warning that the situation poses a threat to democratic institutions if left unchecked.

Meanwhile, Usman’s camp confirmed taking over the secretariat, citing the court order that declared her interim chairman. Her media aide, Ken Asogwa, described the action as “long overdue.”

A visit to the secretariat on Tuesday confirmed a strong security presence, with armed policemen regulating access. Billboards had been replaced, and only individuals aligned with the Usman faction were allowed entry.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has updated its records to reflect Usman as acting national chairman, in compliance with the court ruling a move Abure had previously rejected.

The Labour Party has been embroiled in internal conflict for months, with both factions urging supporters to remain calm as legal processes continue.