Labour Party Secretariat Vandalized Amid Tussle

Accusations of vandalism and illegal occupation have intensified within the Labour Party as the rival factions led by Nenadi Usman and Julius Abure trade blame over the chaotic situation at the national secretariat in Abuja. The Nenadi-led faction, recognized by a recent Federal High Court ruling, accused supporters of Julius Abure of acting as “hoodlums” to vandalize the facility and tear down billboards early Wednesday morning.

This altercation followed a significant move on Tuesday where the Usman-led Caretaker Committee, supported by Abia State Governor Alex Otti, physically took control of the Abuja headquarters. The Abure faction, however, maintains that the invasion was orchestrated by Usman and the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emetu, alleging they arrived with heavy police support to seize the premises and bar staff from entering.

Obiora Ifoh, the Publicity Secretary for the Abure faction, claimed that valuable files and materials were carted away during the takeover. Ifoh stated that his group chose to avoid a physical confrontation to prevent clashes, opting instead for a peaceful approach to address what they termed an unlawful occupation.

The Abure faction emphasized that they have obtained a stay of execution and appealed the high court judgment that previously installed Usman as interim chairperson. They argue that Usman’s attempt to enforce the ruling before the appeal process concludes constitutes a resort to “self-help,” which they claim threatens the democratic process.

In response, the Nenadi faction maintains that their occupation is a lawful implementation of the judicial order. Both sides have called on security agencies, including the Police and the Department of State Security, to intervene and resolve the escalating leadership crisis.