Labour Party Leadership Demands Arrest of Former Chairman Over Secretariat Break-In
ABUJA — The leadership of Nigeria’s Labour Party has formally requested security agencies to arrest its former National Chairman, Julius Abure, following allegations that he illegally entered the party’s Abuja secretariat on Tuesday night and removed official documents.
Senator Nenadi Usman, the party’s current National Chairman, made the demand at a press conference on Wednesday alongside Benson Upah, Acting National Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). She characterised the incident as a criminal act that undermines institutional integrity.
According to Usman, Abure forcibly entered the national secretariat after his tenure had ended and carted away sensitive party records. She stressed that no individual, former or current, has the right to unlawfully access party facilities or remove official documentation.
“Every document that belongs to an office belongs to the office. When your time to go comes, you leave the documents so that those who come after can build on them,” Usman stated. “The moment people believe they can do this kind of thing and get away with it is very, very sad.”
Usman confirmed that the matter has been reported to the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant security bodies, expressing confidence that due process would be followed.
The incident underscores ongoing internal tensions within the Labour Party, which emerged as a significant opposition force during the 2023 general elections. Abure’s tenure as chairman was marked by controversy, including a parallel congress that led to a leadership crisis. His removal from office by a High Court in early 2024 paved the way for the current committee led by Usman.
The party’s leadership, aligning closely with the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC), framed the alleged theft as an attack on organisational continuity. Usman outlined a renewed focus on nationwide membership validation and consolidation, stating the party’s strength remains rooted in its worker and grassroots base.
“We are not against anybody,” she said, adding that the party remains open to collaboration with stakeholders committed to its interests. However, she drew a firm line against actions that compromise the party’s institutional records and security.
Security agencies have yet to publicly comment on the complaint. The call for Abure’s arrest sets the stage for a potential legal confrontation between factions of the party, which continues to play a pivotal role in Nigeria’s labour-aligned political landscape.
