By Deborah Nnamdi
Senator Nenadi Usman has assumed office as the Labour Party’s acting National Chairman and taken control of the party’s national secretariat in Utako, Abuja, following a Federal High Court ruling that dissolved the Julius Abure-led leadership.
Usman’s takeover on Tuesday was marked by heavy security, with armed police officers stationed at strategic points around the secretariat and enforcing strict screening of all visitors, party members, and journalists. Banners and billboards bearing Abure’s image were removed and replaced with those of Usman, signalling a change in leadership.
The development was confirmed by Usman’s Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ken Asogwa, who said the action followed a court judgment recognising Usman as acting chairman. He added that the police presence was in line with the court order to ensure a peaceful transition.
Speaking at the secretariat, Usman said the process was lawful and orderly, stressing that there would be no resistance from the outgoing faction. “The police are here to carry out their duties in line with the court’s judgment. We are working together with the NLC, and this transition will proceed peacefully,” she said, adding that “Abure has already vacated the office following the judgment. The time for factionalism is over.”
The interim leadership later announced that a formal handover ceremony would take place at 11 a.m. at the party secretariat. Plans were also unveiled to take over Labour Party state secretariats nationwide in line with the court ruling.
Following the judgment, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) updated its records to recognize Usman as acting National Chairman alongside other newly recognized national officers.
However, the Abure-led faction rejected the takeover, describing it as an unlawful invasion. In a statement, its National Publicity Secretary, Obiorah Ifoh, alleged that hoodlums, aided by heavy police deployment, stormed the secretariat around 1 a.m., pulled down party billboards, and replaced them with Usman’s images.
Ifoh claimed that eight truckloads of police blocked party officers and staff from accessing the secretariat, allowing only members of the Nenadi Usman interim leadership to enter. He further accused Usman, accompanied by Abia State Deputy Governor Ikechukwu Emetu, of breaking into offices and carting away files and other materials.
While acknowledging that a Federal High Court had recognized Usman as interim chairman, Ifoh said the Abure-led leadership had appealed the judgment and obtained a stay of execution. He argued that it was therefore “inappropriate and needless” for any group to resort to what he termed self-help.
The faction called on the police, the Department of State Services, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and other security agencies to intervene, warning that failure to address the situation could threaten democratic institutions. It also urged party members to remain calm as the leadership pursues legal remedies.
Despite the objections, Usman’s camp maintains that the takeover is lawful and final, marking a historic moment as she becomes the Labour Party’s first female national chairman.
