Fresh tensions gripped the Labour Party on Tuesday night, the 10th of February, 2026, as the Julius Abure-led faction declared it had regained control of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, just 24 hours after the caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman had assumed control of the facility.
The Abure faction, through its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, announced the development in a statement issued late Tuesday in Abuja.
Ifoh confirmed that the party’s headquarters, which had been ‘forcefully’ taken over earlier in the day, was reclaimed, and he shared photographs showing banners and billboards featuring Senator Nenadi Usman being removed.
“The Julius Abure-led leadership of the Labour Party has recovered the party’s national secretariat illegally occupied by the Abia state government and Nenadi Usman’s group earlier today,” the statement read.
The faction argued that the secretariat had been taken unlawfully and emphasized that control had now been restored.
“However, the leadership of the party has since recovered its secretariat after it was discovered that the operation by Nenadi and the deputy governor of Abia state was illegal and unauthorised,” the statement added.
Ifoh stated that the party would conduct an inventory of losses allegedly incurred during the invasion and pursue legal action.
“The party will take inventory of the losses and outright theft that are observed resulting from the illegal invasion, after which a formal charge will be pressed.
“We also warn that the party will no longer tolerate further attempts by some desperate politicians to impugn the lawful activities of the party. We also advise any group claiming leadership to exercise patience until the final determination of the matters at the appellate courts in the land,” the statement concluded.
Party activities are expected to resume from Wednesday at the secretariat, with the statement apologizing for any inconvenience caused to members.
Reacting to the development, Senator Nenadi Usman, acting National Chairman, expressed shock, insisting that the Abure faction acted in defiance of a valid court judgment.
Speaking via her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ken Asogwa, Usman said, “There is a court judgment in place that says Abure has ceased to be the national chairman of the party, and the secretariat is where their lawful duty should be performed.
“Now, someone has just gone there to take the law into his hands by saying the judgment should not be implemented. Have we gone bananas in this country?”
Usman maintained that her group’s takeover was lawful and conducted in broad daylight.
“When we took over the secretariat, it was in broad daylight. Someone has gone there in the middle of the night to announce that he has recce, aim the secretariat,” she said.
She added her disappointment at the absence of police officers to prevent what she described as an illegal action.
The latest clash came barely a day after Usman and Abia State Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, assumed control of the national secretariat under heavy security presence. Armed policemen had been deployed within and around the Utako headquarters during the caretaker committee’s takeover.
READ ALSO: Labour Party Alleges Forceful Takeover of National Secretariat By Nenadi’s Camp
During the visit by journalists, banners and billboards bearing Abure and his executives’ images were removed and replaced with Usman’s. Party members, supporters, and journalists underwent strict security checks to enter the premises.
Sources said the caretaker committee had also planned to take over other Labour Party state secretariats nationwide.
Confirming the takeover earlier on Tuesday, Usman described the action as long overdue and dismissed fears of resistance from the Abure faction.
Earlier, Ifoh accused the police of acting despite an appeal filed by the Abure faction.
Last month, a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Abure’s tenure as National Chairman had expired and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise a caretaker committee led by Usman pending a national convention. INEC subsequently updated its website to list Usman as acting National Chairman alongside other committee members, replacing Abure’s name.
The ruling followed months of internal disputes, rival leadership claims, and court battles that intensified after the 2023 general elections. Despite rejecting the judgment and filing an appeal, Abure has vowed to resist what he describes as an unlawful takeover of the party.