The Labour Party has raised alarm over what it described as a forceful invasion and occupation of its National Secretariat in Abuja, allegedly carried out by Abia State Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, Senator Nenadi Usman, and their supporters.
In a statement posted Tuesday on the party’s official X (formerly Twitter) page, the Labour Party leadership condemned the incident, which it said occurred in the early hours of the day and involved the destruction of party property and restriction of staff access.
According to the statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, security personnel at the secretariat reported that suspected hoodlums arrived around 1 a.m., pulled down Labour Party billboards, and replaced them with materials bearing the name of Senator Nenadi Usman.
The party alleged that the operation was aided by heavy police presence, including “eight truck-loads of policemen,” who reportedly barred party officers and staff from entering the premises while granting access only to individuals linked to what it described as the Nenadi Usman-led interim leadership.
“The Abure-led leadership is dumbfounded by the invasion of its secretariat by the Nenadi camp aided by the police in the early hours of Tuesday,” the statement said, alleging that offices were broken into and files and other materials carted away.
The party claimed that when senior officials arrived later in the morning, they were denied entry by security operatives. It said its leadership chose not to confront the situation directly in order to avoid violence.
While acknowledging that a Federal High Court in the FCT had earlier recognised Senator Usman as Interim National Chairman, the Labour Party stated that it has since obtained a stay of execution and filed an appeal against the judgement.
The party argued that the matter remains subject to judicial determination and accused the opposing camp of resorting to self-help.
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“It is inappropriate and needless for any group to resort to self-help by illegally breaking into the National Secretariat,” the statement said.
The party called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and other relevant agencies to intervene, warning that failure to address the situation could threaten democratic institutions.
It also urged party members nationwide to remain calm and vigilant, assuring them that the leadership is pursuing all legal avenues to resolve the crisis.
As of press time, neither Senator Nenadi Usman nor the Abia State Deputy Governor had issued an official response to the allegations.