The fractional National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has condemned the forceful invasion of the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja by a faction led by Senator Nenadi Usman and the Abia State Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, in the early hours of Tuesday.
In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party described the incident as an illegal takeover aided by eight truckloads of police officers.
According to the Labour Party, the group, accompanied by individuals described as hoodlums, broke into offices at the secretariat around 1 a.m., removed party billboards, replaced them with those of Senator Nenadi Usman, and carted away files and other valuable materials.
Security personnel at the secretariat confirmed that staff and officials of the Abure-led leadership were denied access by the police officers accompanying the invaders, while only members of the Nenadi Usman faction were permitted entry.
The Labour Party expressed shock at what it termed a “police-aided” occupation, particularly while the party is in the process of appealing a Federal High Court judgment that recognized Senator Usman as the Interim Chairman.
The party stated that it had already obtained a Stay of Execution and described the invasion as an act of “self-help” that undermines the judicial process.
“We refused to confront them to avoid clashes, choosing a peaceful approach,” the statement read, noting that senior officials were turned away by police when they attempted to gain access to the building.
The party called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and other relevant security agencies to intervene in what it labeled an unlawful seizure of its headquarters.
“If this anomaly is not checked, it is a pointer that our democracy and its institutions are being threatened,” the statement warned.
The Labour Party also urged its members nationwide to remain calm and vigilant, assuring them that the leadership is pursuing all legal avenues to resolve the crisis and reclaim control of the secretariat.
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