The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has accused Abia State Deputy Governor Ikechukwu Emetu and Senator Nenadi Usman of masterminding a violent and unlawful invasion of the party’s national secretariat in Utako, Abuja, early Tuesday morning, during which files and other valuables were allegedly carted away.
In a strongly worded statement issued by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, titled “Abia State Deputy Governor, Nenadi Usman, Others Forcefully Break into National Secretariat, Cart Away Valuables, and Bar Staff from Gaining Access,” the Abure group described the incident as a forceful takeover aided by heavy police presence.
The statement alleged that unidentified persons, accompanied by eight truckloads of policemen, stormed the headquarters around 1 a.m., removed all billboards and signage displaying Abure and his executives, and replaced them with those of Senator Usman. Party staff and officials were reportedly denied access, with only members of the Usman-led interim leadership permitted inside the premises.
“The invasion, aided by eight truckloads of policemen, denied officers and staff of the party access, ensuring that only members of the Nenadi interim leadership were allowed into the secretariat,” Ifoh stated. He further claimed that hoodlums, allegedly directed by Senator Nenadi Usman and Abia State Deputy Governor Ikechukwu Emetu, broke into offices and removed files and other materials.
“When some of our senior officials arrived in the morning, they were prevented by the police. We chose not to confront them to avoid clashes, opting for a peaceful approach,” the statement added.
The Abure faction acknowledged a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja that recognized Usman as interim national chairman and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to acknowledge her caretaker committee pending a national convention. However, they insisted the ruling remains under appeal, with a stay of execution already obtained.
“It is on record that a Federal High Court in the FCT gave a judgment recognising Senator Usman as the interim chairman of the Labour Party. However, the party leadership has obtained a stay of execution and has since appealed the judgment,” Ifoh explained. “It is therefore inappropriate and unnecessary for any group to resort to self-help by forcefully breaking into the national secretariat.”
The statement called on the police, Department of State Services (DSS), Office of the National Security Adviser, and other security agencies to intervene immediately, warning that failure to act poses a serious threat to democratic institutions. It urged party members to remain calm and law-abiding while legal options are pursued.
Senator Nenadi Usman, speaking through her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ken Asogwa, confirmed the takeover in a phone interview, describing it as “long overdue.” A visit to the secretariat showed armed policemen stationed inside and around the building, with strict security screening for journalists, party members, and supporters.
Usman, recognized by INEC as acting national chairman following the court order, and with Abure’s name replaced on the commission’s website two weeks ago, said the action aligns with the judicial pronouncement. Last month, the Federal High Court ruled that Abure’s tenure as national chairman had expired.