Fresh crisis has erupted within the Labour Party after the faction loyal to Julius Abure announced it had regained control of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, less than 24 hours after the caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman took over the premises.
In a statement issued late Tuesday in Abuja, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, confirmed that the party headquarters—allegedly invaded in the early hours of Tuesday—had been recovered.
Photographs released by the group showed banners and billboards bearing Usman’s image being removed from the building.
According to the statement, the Abure-led leadership reclaimed the secretariat, which it claimed had been illegally occupied by the Abia State Government and Usman’s supporters.
It further alleged that the earlier takeover, reportedly involving Usman and the Deputy Governor of Abia State, was unlawful and unauthorised.
Ifoh said the party would assess damages and pursue legal action over alleged losses and theft during the incident.
“The party will take inventory of losses and theft resulting from the illegal invasion, after which formal charges will be filed,” he said.
He also warned against what he described as attempts by “desperate politicians” to undermine the party’s lawful leadership, urging all groups to await the final decision of the appellate courts.
The faction assured members that normal activities would resume at the headquarters from Wednesday and apologised for any inconvenience caused.
Reacting, Senator Usman expressed shock over the development, insisting that the Abure faction was acting contrary to an existing court judgment.
Speaking through her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ken Asogwa, she maintained that a court had ruled Abure’s tenure as National Chairman had expired and that the secretariat should be under the control of the caretaker committee.
She criticised the move to retake the building, questioning why the judgment had not been enforced and describing the action as taking the law into one’s hands.
Usman also stated that her faction’s takeover was conducted openly during the day, unlike what she described as a late-night move by Abure’s camp. She expressed disappointment that security operatives did not prevent what she termed an illegal action.
The latest twist follows Tuesday’s takeover of the Utako-based secretariat by Usman and Abia State Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, amid heavy security presence.
Armed policemen were reportedly stationed within and around the premises as Usman’s faction assumed control. Banners bearing Abure’s image were removed and replaced with those of the caretaker committee leadership, while visitors underwent strict security screening.
Sources indicated that preparations were also underway to extend the caretaker committee’s control to other state secretariats nationwide.
Earlier, Usman had described the takeover as long overdue and dismissed concerns about possible resistance.
Meanwhile, Ifoh had accused the police of acting despite an appeal filed by Abure’s faction.
Last month, a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Abure’s tenure had lapsed and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise a caretaker committee headed by Usman pending a national convention.
INEC subsequently updated its website to reflect Usman as Acting National Chairman, replacing Abure’s name.
The ruling followed months of internal disputes and parallel leadership claims within the party after the 2023 general elections.
Despite filing an appeal and rejecting the judgment, Abure has vowed to resist what he describes as an unlawful attempt to seize control of the party.
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