Labour Party Factions Trade Accusations Over Secretariate Occupation
A leadership dispute within Nigeria’s Labour Party has escalated, with rival factions trading accusations over the occupation of the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
The conflict centres on the authority of Senator Nenadi-Usman, who is recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s Interim National Chairman. Her faction resumed duties at the secretariat on Tuesday, a move that prompted a counter-claim from the opposing faction led by Julius Abure.
Abure’s group had earlier accused Nenadi-Usman’s faction of a nocturnal invasion, alleging that valuables were stolen during the incident. However, Ken Asogwa, Special Adviser to Nenadi-Usman, denied the allegation during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday.
Asogwa stated that the individuals reporting an invasion by Nenadi-Usman’s group were, in fact, the “hoodlums” who attempted to breach the secretariat. “So the people who are saying that we invaded our secretariat are actually the hoodlums who tried to invade our headquarters in the dead of the night,” he said.
The Nenadi-Usman faction asserts its occupation is lawful. Asogwa explained that her recognition by INEC is recent, following a Federal High Court judgment. He noted that INEC updated its records to list Nenadi-Usman as the party’s chairman on January 30, 2024, shortly after the court ruling. Furthermore, he stated that INEC invited her to a quarterly consultative meeting with party leaders days ago, reinforcing her status.
“On that note, we resumed office in our National Secretariat on Tuesday to carry out our duties as the chairman of the Labour Party as ordered by the Federal High Court of Nigeria,” Asogwa added.
The public clash highlights the ongoing internal crisis within the Labour Party, a significant opposition party in Nigeria. The factional dispute centres on control of the party’s structures and its ahead of future elections. The secretariate, located in the capital, serves as the party’s operational hub.
The key point of contention is the legitimacy of Nenadi-Usman’s chairmanship, which her side bases on a court verdict and subsequent INEC documentation. The Abure faction’s counter-accusation suggests a refusal to cede control. Security presence at the secretariate is understood to have been heightened following the Tuesday incident.
The INEC’s formal recognition of Nenadi-Usman is a critical development in the standoff. However, the refusal of the Abure-aligned leadership to acknowledge this decision has resulted in a parallel authority structure, creating confusion over who officially represents the party. Both factions are expected to continue mobilising supporters and leveraging legal and institutional avenues to solidify their control.
The situation underscores the challenges of internal party democracy and compliance with electoral regulations in Nigeria’s political landscape. The outcome of this impasse will significantly impact the party’s cohesion and strategy in the coming political cycle. Observers await further potential legal clarifications or INEC interventions to resolve the dual claims to the party’s national leadership.
