Abure Refuses to Quit Labour Party Secretariat as Leadership Crisis Deepens

The leadership crisis in the Labour Party worsened on Friday as ousted National Chairman, Julius Abure, vowed not to relinquish the party’s national secretariat in Utako, Abuja, to the Nenadi Usman-led interim leadership, despite her recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Abure, who spoke through his Deputy National Chairman, Dr Ayo Olorunfemi, at a press conference in Abuja, also alleged that there were ongoing plans to arrest him and members of his National Working Committee.

The development followed heightened tension at the party’s headquarters after a pronouncement by the Federal High Court directing INEC to recognise Usman’s leadership, a decision that has further polarised the party.

Challenging the move to take over the secretariat, Olorunfemi said a court pronouncement asking INEC to recognise Usman did not amount to an order to invade or occupy the party’s office.

“Of course, INEC has played its part by putting her name on its portal and choosing wherever they want to operate from. But there is no address in what INEC put. That secretariat remains our office. They, on the other hand, can decide to rent any facility and call it their office. There is nothing wrong with that. But we are not leaving that party,” he said.

He dismissed claims that his faction forcefully entered the premises, insisting that the documents in the office belonged to them.

“How can any reasonable person be talking about breaking in? Do you break into what you already have? The documents in that office are ours, not theirs. They are impostors and usurpers,” he added.

On Tuesday, there was a heavy security presence at the national secretariat as Usman took over the headquarters from the Abure-led faction.

When journalists visited the premises, armed policemen were stationed within and around the secretariat. Labour Party banners and billboards bearing the images of Abure and his executives had been replaced with those of Usman. Party supporters, members and journalists were subjected to strict security screening before gaining access.

Usman later confirmed the takeover through her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ken Asogwa.

However, Abure’s camp alleged that the action was premeditated.

“In the past one year, there have been threats by some disgruntled elements in the Labour Party to picket, invade and occupy the national secretariat in Utako. On several occasions, they attempted to carry out the threats but met resistance. The latest invasion was carried out at about 1am on Tuesday when some hoodlums scaled the party compound to pull down the party’s billboards and replace them with those of Nenadi Usman.

“We were dismayed to find a larger contingent of police officers on Wednesday who barricaded the premises but permitted certain individuals from a faction to enter and hoist their banners.

“We expected that if the office was to be sealed temporarily, no group should be allowed access so as not to create the impression of bias,” he said.

Olorunfemi disclosed that the faction had petitioned the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General of Police over the alleged conduct of officers of the FCT Command, urging neutrality in the handling of the situation.

On the legal tussle, he said the faction had filed an appeal against the court decision. He also alleged plans to arrest members of the faction’s leadership.

“We have it on good authority that there are plans to arrest some of our national officers, including our national chairman, for daring to stand up against the impunity of a South-East governor.

“As we await the arrest, we call on lovers of democracy to stand up and protect this democracy that we all fought for. There is a limit to how long this impunity can last.

“We are calling on our party faithful to remain calm as the leadership is doing everything within the law to ensure that justice is achieved,” he said.

The latest development came barely 24 hours after Usman and the Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Benson Upah, called on the Department of State Services and other security agencies to arrest Abure over what they described as his agitation to reclaim the party’s national secretariat.

Addressing journalists at the secretariat on Wednesday, Usman accused Abure of unlawfully entering the premises and allegedly carting away official party documents. She described the action as criminal and insisted that documents belonging to any institution must remain in the office to preserve institutional memory and continuity.