Abure-led faction accuses Nenadi Usman’s camp of forcefully occupying LP secretariat

• Abure-led faction accuses Nenadi Usman’s camp of forcefully occupying LP secretariat.
• Alleged takeover reportedly occurred around 1am with security operatives present.
• Nenadi Usman assumed office hours earlier as interim national chairman.
• Abure faction insists court ruling is under appeal and has a stay of execution.

The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has accused the Nenadi Usman-led interim leadership of forcefully breaking into and occupying the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, describing the move as unlawful and an act of self-help.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the Abure faction alleged that suspected hoodlums, accompanied by security operatives, stormed the secretariat around 1am, pulled down existing party billboards and replaced them with banners bearing the name of Ms Usman.

The allegation came barely hours after Ms Usman officially assumed office as interim national chairman of the opposition party following a court ruling recognising her leadership.

Abure camp alleges forced entry, police backing

According to the statement, police officers allegedly blocked party staff and officers from entering the premises, allowing only individuals aligned with the Nenadi Usman-led interim leadership access into the secretariat.

“The Abure-led leadership is dumbfounded by the invasion of its secretariat by Nenadi camp aided by police in the early hours of Tuesday,” the statement said. “Accompanied by the Abia State Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, Senator Nenadi ordered hoodlums to break into offices and cart away files and other sensitive materials.”

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The faction claimed that senior party officials who arrived later in the morning were prevented from entering, but said they chose not to confront security operatives in order to avoid clashes.

While acknowledging that the Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier recognized Ms Usman as interim chairman, the Abure faction insisted the judgment had been appealed and that a stay of execution had been obtained, making any physical takeover unlawful.

The group called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Office of the National Security Adviser and other relevant agencies to investigate the incident and restore order at the party secretariat.

“If this anomaly is not checked, it is a pointer that our democracy and its institutions are being threatened,” the statement added.

Nenadi Usman assumes office amid legal dispute

Speaking earlier after assuming office at the party’s national headquarters, Ms Usman described the development as a significant moment in the history of the Labour Party, noting that what stakeholders expected to be a smooth transition turned into a prolonged legal battle.

She also dismissed reports of internal wrangling between her leadership and labour unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.

The crisis follows a Federal High Court ruling that affirmed the removal of Julius Abure as national chairman and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Usman-led National Caretaker Committee.

Despite the ruling, the Abure faction insists the matter remains in court and urged party members nationwide to remain calm while the leadership pursues legal remedies.