Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee takes over LP secretariat
The Nenadi Usman–led Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party (LP) on Tuesday took over the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, following a Federal High Court ruling that recognised her as
- Abure kicks, alleges invasion of office
The Nenadi Usman–led Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party (LP) on Tuesday took over the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, following a Federal High Court ruling that recognised her as the Interim National Chairman of the party.
There was heavy security presence at the secretariat when Usman arrived alongside members of her National Working Committee. All Labour Party banners and giant billboards bearing the images of the factional chairman, Julius Abure, and his executives within the premises were pulled down and replaced with those of Usman.
Speaking at the secretariat, Usman expressed gratitude and optimism over the development, describing the takeover as a significant milestone for the party.
She said, “I want to particularly thank God Almighty for a day like this. This is the day that the Lord has made; we shall rejoice and be glad in it.”
According to her, “It’s a very important day because this is the first event we are having in our national secretariat since the Supreme Court judgment on April 4 last year.”
Usman acknowledged that the journey to reclaim the party’s leadership had been challenging.
She said, “What we thought was going to be smooth sailing took a long time, but with patience, today we are here.
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“We want to thank God for it and promise all party faithful across the country that we will do the right thing at the right time. All we want is to develop this party.”
She also praised the Abia State Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, and his team for their role since the caretaker committee was inaugurated in 2024.
Usman added, “They’ve been doing a lot of work, and we thought it would be nice to meet today in front of the press to let the whole country know what we have done so far.
“For those who have been very supportive and encouraged us, we want to let you know that we will not let you down.”
Last month, a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Julius Abure’s tenure as National Chairman of the Labour Party had elapsed and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the caretaker committee led by Usman, pending the conduct of a national convention.
The judgment followed prolonged internal disputes, court cases, and parallel leadership claims that intensified after the 2023 general elections. While the faction backed by Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, welcomed the ruling and called for restraint and reconciliation, Abure rejected the judgment, vowed to appeal, and warned INEC against recognising the rival faction.
However, INEC later recognised Usman as the acting National Chairman of the party, citing a court order directing it to acknowledge the caretaker committee. Two weeks ago, Abure’s name was replaced with Usman’s on INEC’s website.
Meanwhile, the Abure-led faction of the party has condemned what it described as the “forceful breaking into and occupation” of the party’s National Secretariat by Nenadi Usman and the Abia State Deputy Governor Alex Otti.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the faction alleged that hoodlums invaded the secretariat around 1am on Tuesday and pulled down Abure’s billboards, replacing them with Usman’s.
The statement claimed that the invasion was “aided by eight truckloads of Policemen,” who allegedly denied access to party officers and staff while ensuring that “only names of members of Nenadi Interim leadership were given access into the Secretariat.”
It read: “The Abure-led leadership was dumbfounded by the invasion of its secretariat by Nenadi camp, aided by the police in the early hours of Tuesday.”
The faction further alleged: “Accompanied by the Abia state deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, Senator Nenadi ordered his hoodlums to break into all the offices, and carted files and other materials alongside.”
According to the statement, senior officials loyal to the Abure faction who arrived at the secretariat later in the morning were prevented from entering by security operatives.
It added: “When some of our senior officials came to office in the morning, we were prevented by the Police. We refused to confront them to avoid clashes and confrontations, choosing a peaceful approach.”
While acknowledging the court ruling recognising Usman as Interim Chairman, the Abure-led group insisted that it had obtained a stay of execution and appealed the judgment.
The statement said: “It is on record that a Federal High Court in FCT gave a judgment which recognized Senator Usman as the Interim Chairman of the Labour Party. However, the party leadership has obtained a Stay of Execution and has since appealed the judgment.”
The faction described the takeover as self-help, stating: “It is therefore inappropriate and needless for any group to resort to self-help by illegally breaking into the National Secretariat.”
It called on security agencies to intervene, warning of broader implications for democracy.
The statement added: “We are by this statement calling on the Police, Department of State Security, office of the National Security Adviser, and other relevant agencies to take note of the unlawful invasion of our party Secretariat. If this anomaly is not checked, it is a pointer that our democracy and its institutions are being threatened.”
The faction also urged party members to remain calm and vigilant as it pursues legal means to reclaim control of the party.
