A faction of the Labour Party (LP) led by Julius Abure has raised concerns that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is planning to storm the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. This comes after the Supreme Court ruled on Friday to nullify an Appeal Court decision that had recognized Abure as the LP’s national chairman.
Following the ruling, Nenadi Usman, head of the LP’s caretaker committee, received support from Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, and Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, who all praised the judgment. The LP’s House of Representatives caucus also welcomed the decision, calling it a much-needed boost for the party’s “stability and reinvention.”
The Labour Party is currently grappling with a leadership crisis that has divided the party into competing factions. The NLC, which opposes Abure’s leadership, is at the center of the tensions.
In a statement released on Sunday, Umar Ibrahim, the party’s national secretary, accused the NLC of mobilizing its members, along with hired thugs and other miscreants, in collaboration with Usman’s committee and the National Transition Committee (NTC) to invade the LP national secretariat. Ibrahim claimed that the invasion is set to take place on Monday, with the intention of stealing sensitive documents and damaging party property.
“We view this action as highly irresponsible and a sign of desperation on the part of the NLC,” the statement said. “It has the potential to disturb the peace of the Federal Capital Territory.”
Ibrahim emphasized that the Supreme Court’s April 5, 2025 judgment was clear, affirming that political parties must resolve leadership disputes internally. He pointed out that the ruling did not grant the NLC, the National Caretaker Committee, or any other group the authority to take control of the Labour Party.
“The judgment only reinforces that the leadership issue within a political party is an internal matter,” Ibrahim added. “There is no legal basis for the NLC or any other group to seize control of the Labour Party. Julius Abure, who was lawfully elected at the party’s convention in March 2024, remains the National Chairman of the Labour Party.”
He further warned that any attempt to forcibly remove Abure from his position would be met with strong resistance and urged the police and security agencies to ensure the safety and peace of the party’s secretariat.
