Heavy security as Nenadi Usman assumes control of LP secretariat

Security was heightened at the Labour Party’s national secretariat in Utako, Abuja, on Tuesday as acting National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, formally took over the headquarters from the Julius Abure-led faction.

Armed police officers were deployed within and around the premises, mounting strict checks on party members, supporters, and journalists before granting access. Party banners and billboards bearing the images of Abure and his executives were removed and replaced with those of Usman.

Usman confirmed the takeover in a phone interview through her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ken Asogwa, stating that police were invited to provide security in line with a court judgment recognising her leadership.

“The police are there at our request to maintain order. We are acting based on the court’s decision and working together with the NLC,” she said, adding that the exercise would be peaceful.

Dismissing the possibility of resistance from the Abure faction, Usman said there was no basis for confrontation, noting that Abure had already vacated the office. She maintained that the party’s new leadership had now been officially recognised, ending any claims of factional control.

Sources within the party disclosed that the leadership had also directed members to prepare for similar takeovers of state secretariats nationwide.

Shortly after, the interim leadership invited journalists to witness the formal handover ceremony and presentation of a progress report on membership revalidation and registration.

However, the Abure faction criticised the move. Factional National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, described the police presence as surprising, noting that the group had appealed the court ruling and would soon state its position.

Last month, a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Abure’s tenure had expired and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise the caretaker committee led by Usman pending a national convention. INEC subsequently updated its records to reflect Usman as acting chairman, replacing Abure’s name on its website.

The ruling followed months of internal disputes and parallel leadership claims within the party after the 2023 general elections. While the Otti-backed faction welcomed the judgment and called for reconciliation, Abure rejected it and vowed to appeal.