The crisis rocking the Labour Party has taken a fresh turn after the party’s national secretariat in Abuja was broken into and key documents taken away.
Members of the National Working Committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman, along with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress, visited the damaged office on Thursday and accused the former leadership under Julius Abure of being behind the invasion.
They have also reported the matter to the police and called on security agencies to arrest those involved.
The development came shortly after a Federal High Court in Abuja removed the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee and recognized the group led by Senator Usman as the legitimate leadership.
The Independent National Electoral Commission also acknowledged the Usman-led Caretaker Committee as the authentic executive of the party.
On Tuesday morning, the newly recognized committee held a meeting at the secretariat.
However, later that night, unknown persons reportedly entered the premises and removed important party files and materials.
Speaking after inspecting the building, Senator Usman said that when they met earlier that day, all documents were in place.
She said it was shocking to return and find cabinets empty and files missing.
According to her, the act was not just theft but a serious attack on the party’s structure and democratic process.
She alleged that Julius Abure came to the secretariat with security officials and described the action as an abuse of power.
Usman said she was not present during the incident but relied on the account of the security guard who was on duty.
The guard, Aminu Salusi, said the incident happened around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
He claimed that Abure arrived with some former executives and asked him to open the gate.
When he told them he did not have the keys, he said some security operatives climbed over the fence to gain entry.
Salusi alleged that he and another guard were beaten and threatened with guns for refusing to hand over the keys.
He said the group later forced their way into the chairman’s office upstairs and damaged parts of it before taking away items.
After the incident, he was reportedly warned not to return to the secretariat.
Senator Usman said the party would not be discouraged by the attack or by any legal moves at the Court of Appeal.
She maintained that her team remains in charge and is focused on rebuilding the party.
She explained that her plan includes registering both old and new members and working closely with labour groups such as the NLC Political Commission, the Trade Union Congress, workers, and grassroots supporters across the country.
On the issue of members leaving the party, including the 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, she said the party remains open to everyone and believes more people can still join if the foundation is properly rebuilt from the grassroots.
Among those who joined the inspection were NLC Deputy National Chairman Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, Acting General Secretary of the NLC Benson Upah, Labour Party Board of Trustees Secretary Salihu Mohammad, Deputy Secretary General Ismail Bello, Chris Uyot, and Dr. Chibuzo Okereke, who heads the party secretariat and administration.
Benson Upah stated that the labour movement would support efforts to keep the party stable as the country prepares for the next general elections.
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