The crisis rocking the Labour Party worsened on Tuesday night as the faction loyal to the party’s former National Chairman, Julius Abure, announced reclaiming the party’s national secretariat in Abuja from the Senator Esther Nenadi Usman-led camp hours after her group reportedly assumed control of the building.
In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the Abure-led faction alleged that Nenadi Usman’s group gained access to the Utako-based secretariat in the early hours of Tuesday.
The statement said the Nenadi Usman group entered the complex at about 1:00 a.m., and accessed offices within the premises, including those of the National Chairman and National Secretary.
The Abure faction further claimed that party documents and other items were removed from the offices, while billboards bearing Abure’s image were taken down.
It also alleged that the Nenadi group held a press conference at the secretariat without authorisation.
But the faction said it later regained control of the facility, describing the earlier development as unauthorised.
“The leadership of the party has since recovered its secretariat after it was discovered that the operation by Nenadi Usman and the Deputy Governor of Abia State was illegal,” the statement read.
The Abure group added that it would assess any losses arising from the incident and consider appropriate steps thereafter.
It assured party members that normal activities would resume on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at the party’s national headquarters, and apologised for any inconvenience caused.
The development is the latest in the ongoing leadership dispute within the Labour Party, with rival factions laying claim to the party’s national leadership and secretariat following conflicting court rulings.
The Nenadi Usman faction could not be reached for reactions as of press time.
