There was a heavy security presence on Tuesday at the national secretariat of the Labour Party in Abuja as the acting National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, took over the headquarters from the Julius Abure-led faction.

Usman confirmed the development in a phone interview through her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ken Asogwa.

When our correspondent visited the party’s national secretariat in Utako, Abuja, gun-toting and stern-looking policemen were stationed within and around the premises.

All Labour Party banners and giant billboards bearing the faces of Abure and his executives within the premises have been replaced with those of Usman.

Party supporters, members, and journalists were subjected to strict security screening and asked to properly identify themselves before gaining access to the secretariat.

Sources within the party said the new leadership had also directed members to begin preparations to take over other Labour Party state secretariats across the country.

When contacted to confirm whether the Otti-backed faction had fully taken over the national secretariat, Usman said the move was long overdue.

She said, “Yes, the police mounting guard at the national secretariat were invited by our people. They are there to perform their duties as per the court’s judgment. We are doing this together with the NLC.

“We only wrote to the police to provide cover for us this morning. So, the police are there for us.”

Asked if her camp was prepared for possible resistance from the Abure faction, Usman ruled out any confrontation.

“There can’t be any confrontation from Abure. On what leg or basis is he standing to confront anybody? The same Abure you are talking about has since moved all his belongings from that office after the judgment.

“Since we started the agitation to take over the party secretariat, our name has not been on the INEC portal. There has never been a clear court directive by any court in Nigeria until now that Nenadi has been fully recognised as the national chairman.

“Now, the situation doesn’t give room for anybody to hang around again and be saying, ‘I am a factional this or that.’ No, not anymore. We are officially taking over the party this morning.

“I can assure you there won’t be violence or confrontation as you feared. For the police to even agree to come, you can understand that the game has changed. Before, if you wrote to the police, they would pretend like they didn’t see it,” she noted.

Shortly after the interview, the party’s interim leadership sent out a press invitation to journalists to witness the official takeover of the national secretariat by 11 a.m.

The terse statement read: “Media Invitation. The Labour Party Interim Leadership, led by Senator Nenadi Usman, invites you to the handing-over ceremony of the Progress Report on Membership Revalidation and Registration to the National Leadership of the Party, as well as the occasion of the taking over of the Party’s National Secretary position at Utako, Abuja. You’re invited to witness the events.”

Reacting, the factional National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said the Abure-led faction would respond officially.

“It is strange to hear the police sealed up our secretariat despite knowing we have appealed the case. Their defence is that they have a court order to seal up the place.

“We will make our position on this issue known very soon.”

Last month, a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Abure’s tenure as National Chairman of the Labour Party had elapsed and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise the caretaker committee led by Usman pending the conduct of a national convention.

The judgment followed prolonged internal disputes, court cases, and parallel leadership claims that intensified after the 2023 general elections.

While the Otti-backed faction welcomed the ruling, it called for restraint and reconciliation within the party.

Abure rejected the judgment and vowed to appeal, warning INEC not to side with the Otti faction.

INEC later recognised Usman as the acting National Chairman of the party, citing a court order directing it to acknowledge the caretaker committee.

Two weeks ago, Abure’s name was replaced with Usman’s on INEC’s website.

Other officials listed include Senator Darlington Nwokocha as National Secretary; Hamisu Santuraki, National Treasurer; Aisha Madije, National Financial Secretary; and Eric Ifere, National Legal Adviser. (PUNCH)

Update news