KEY POINTS

• A leadership tussle within the Labour Party intensified after a court recognised Nenadi Usman as interim chairman and her faction took over the party secretariat.
• Usman’s camp alleges that supporters of Julius Abure vandalised the headquarters and removed her billboard.
• Rival accusations from both factions underscore a deepening crisis threatening party unity and stability.

The internal crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) escalated on Tuesday after the faction led by Nenadi Usman, which claims legitimacy following a Federal High Court ruling, assumed control of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

The court had reportedly recognised Usman as the party’s Interim National Chairman, a decision that emboldened her supporters and intensified an already tense leadership dispute.

Usman’s caretaker committee is backed by Abia State Governor Alex Otti and insists its takeover of the headquarters was lawful and in line with the court’s pronouncement.

Hours after the takeover, the Usman-led camp alleged that members loyal to embattled party leader Julius Abure stormed the facility at night. According to a statement shared via the faction’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, the group accused Abure—whom they described as “former and expelled”—of leading hoodlums to vandalize the building.

The statement claimed the alleged attackers pulled down a billboard bearing Usman’s image and caused damage within the premises, calling the incident “a sad development” that reflects the depth of division within the party.

Rival Claims and Counter-Accusations

The accusations add another layer to the long-running leadership tussle between both factions, each claiming legitimacy and control of party structures.

The Abure camp has previously disputed moves by the Usman faction, while also accusing its rivals of unlawfully breaking into the secretariat and removing valuables.

These conflicting narratives highlight a deepening power struggle that continues to fragment the party’s leadership and weaken internal cohesion ahead of future political contests.

Analysts warn that the prolonged dispute could undermine the Labour Party’s credibility, disrupt its organizational stability, and weaken its bargaining strength within Nigeria’s political landscape.

With both factions holding separate positions and issuing rival statements, reconciliation appears increasingly difficult unless an authoritative intervention or fresh court clarification settles the leadership question.