The crisis within the Labour Party (LP) escalated on Tuesday night as the faction loyal to the party’s former National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, announced that it had regained control of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja from the camp led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, hours after her group reportedly assumed control of the facility.

In a statement signed by the party’s 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.

According to the statement, the 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.

However, 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 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.

Efforts to obtain a response from the Nenadi Usman faction were unsuccessful as of press time. (Daily Trust)