NLC planning to invade LP national secretariat over s’court verdict, Abure faction alleges

The faction of the Labour Party (LP) led by Julius Abure has alleged that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is planning to invade the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

On Friday, the supreme court nullified an appeal court verdict that recognised Abure as the LP national chairman.

Subsequently, Nenadi Usman, chairman of the LP caretaker committee, backed by Peter Obi, the party’s standard-bearer in the 2023 election; and Alex Otti, governor of Abia; commended the judgement.

The LP house of representatives caucus also hailed the judgement, describing it as a “tonic and elixir” for the party’s “stability and reinvention”.

The LP is embroiled in a leadership crisis that has polarised the party into factions.

The NLC is opposed to Abure’s leadership.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Umar Ibrahim, national secretary of the party, alleged that the NLC is “mobilising its members, hired thugs and some miscreants” with the Usman-led committee and the national transition committee (NTC) to invade the LP national secretariat.

He claimed that the invasion is expected to commence on Monday.

Ibrahim alleged that the aim is to cart away sensitive documents and to also vandalise the property belonging to the party.

“We view this action which is capable of breaching the peace of the Federal Capital Territory as irresponsible and an evidence of desperation on the NLC,” the statement reads.

“It must be noted that the judgement of the Supreme Court delivered on the 5th of April, 2025 is very clear and unambiguous.

“The judgement simply mandates political parties to always resolve their crisis using internal mechanism, and that the issue of leadership is an internal affairs of the political parties.

“There is no where in the judgement that gave NLC, National Caretaker Committee or any other body by whatever nomenclature to take over the leadership of the Labour Party.

“There is a leadership in place in the Labour Party and Barrister Julius Abure who was validly elected at a convention held in March 2024 still remains the National Chairman of the Labour Party.”

He said that “any attempt to forcefully usurp” Abure’s leadership will be resisted.

Ibrahim asked the police and all security agencies to forestall any breach of peace at the party’s secretariat.