A faction of Nigeria’s opposition Labour Party led by National Chairman Julius Abure has accused Interim National Chairman Nenadi Usman and her supporters of orchestrating a forceful takeover of the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja early Tuesday.
According to a statement from the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the incident occurred around 1 a.m. when individuals accompanied by police officers broke into the secretariat. Ifoh alleged that the group, which included Senator Nenadi Usman and Abia State Deputy Governor Ikechukwu Emetu, barred staff from entering, replaced party billboards with those of Usman’s faction, and removed files and other materials. He claimed eight truckloads of police officers facilitated the action, allowing only members of Usman’s interim leadership access.
The statement referenced a December 2023 Federal High Court judgment that recognized Usman as interim chairman but noted the Abure faction obtained a stay of execution and has appealed the ruling. The faction argued this legal process makes any “self-help” action unlawful and destabilizing.
Ifoh called on Nigeria’s police, Department of State Security, National Security Adviser, and other agencies to intervene, warning that unchecked such actions threaten democratic institutions. He also urged party members to remain vigilant as the leadership pursues legal remedies to “ensure justice is not denied the party.”
The incident highlights the escalating leadership crisis within the Labour Party, a key opposition group that gained prominence in the 2023 elections. The factional clash over control of the secretariat underscores ongoing tensions despite pending litigation, raising concerns about internal party cohesion and the rule of law in Nigeria’s political landscape.
