“NLC Mobilising Thugs to Invade Labour Party Secretariat” — Abure Faction Alleges

The faction of the Labour Party (LP) led by Julius Abure has accused the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) of plotting to invade the party’s national secretariat in Abuja following a recent Supreme Court verdict. The apex court on Friday nullified an appeal court ruling that had affirmed Abure as the party’s national chairman.

In the wake of the judgment, Nenadi Usman, chairman of the LP caretaker committee and an ally of Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, as well as Alex Otti, governor of Abia State, welcomed the decision. The LP caucus in the House of Representatives also praised the ruling, calling it a step toward party stability and renewal.

The LP has been deeply divided by a leadership crisis, with the NLC firmly opposed to Abure’s continued leadership. In a statement released on Sunday, Umar Ibrahim, national secretary of the Abure-led faction, claimed that the NLC, alongside the Usman-led caretaker committee and the party’s national transition committee, is mobilising members, thugs, and other individuals to forcibly take over the party secretariat.

Ibrahim alleged that the planned invasion is expected to begin Monday, with the aim of seizing sensitive documents and vandalising party property. He described the alleged plan as a desperate and reckless move that could endanger peace in the Federal Capital Territory.

According to him, the Supreme Court’s ruling was clear in directing political parties to resolve internal disputes through their own mechanisms and did not authorise any external group or caretaker committee to assume leadership. He maintained that Barrister Julius Abure, who was elected at the party’s March 2024 convention, remains the legitimate national chairman.

Ibrahim warned that any attempt to forcibly remove Abure would be resisted and called on the police and other security agencies to prevent any breakdown of law and order at the party’s secretariat.