Labour Party acting chief Nenadi Usman on Tuesday seized control of the national headquarters in Abuja, backed by armed police, as a court ruling ousted rival Julius Abure’s faction from the premises.
The takeover unfolded under heavy security, with officers screening entrants and guarding the Utako site where Usman’s team swiftly replaced Abure’s signage with her own. Preparations were underway to extend the move to state-level offices, signaling a consolidation of power.
Usman, in a phone interview, justified the police presence: “The police mounting guard at the national secretariat were invited by our people. They are there to perform their duties as per the court’s judgment.” She added: “We are doing this together with the NLC. We only wrote to the police to provide cover for us this morning. So, the police are there for us.”
Dismissing fears of clashes, Usman asserted: “There can’t be any confrontation from Abure. On what leg or basis is he standing to confront anybody? The same Abure you are talking about has since moved all his belongings from that office after the judgment.” She emphasized the shift’s finality: “Now, the situation doesn’t give room for anybody to hang around again and be saying, ‘I am a factional this or that.’ No, not anymore. We are officially taking over the party this morning.”
The development stems from a protracted leadership tussle, exacerbated post-2023 elections, culminating in a Federal High Court verdict last month affirming Usman’s caretaker committee and directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognize her role.
INEC complied, updating its portal two weeks ago to list Usman as acting chair.
Abure’s camp, which has appealed the decision, voiced dismay. Spokesman Obiora Ifoh said: “It is strange to hear the police sealed up our secretariat despite knowing we have appealed the case. Their defence is that they have a court order to seal up the place. We will make our position on this issue known very soon.”
Usman’s administration, including figures like Senator Darlington Nwokocha as national secretary, planned a midday ceremony to receive a membership report and formalize the handover.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, a key stakeholder, endorsed the transition, while backers of Abia Governor Alex Otti urged calm and unity.
