Nigeria’s Labour Party says its National Secretariat in Abuja, the country’s capital, was forcefully entered and occupied early Tuesday, with party officials alleging that valuables and party materials were taken away.
In a statement issued by Obiora Ifoh, the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, the party accused Ikechukwu Emetu, the Deputy Governor of Abia State in south-east Nigeria, and Senator Nenadi Usman, a Nigerian politician, of being involved in the incident.
The party said security personnel at the headquarters reported that hoodlums arrived around 1:00 in the morning on Tuesday and removed Labour Party billboards. It added that the billboards were replaced with materials linked to Senator Usman.
The statement alleged that the operation was supported by a large deployment of police officers, claiming that staff and entrance officers were denied access to the premises. It also said only individuals connected to an interim leadership group were allowed inside.
The party said some of its senior officials who came to the office later in the morning were stopped from entering. It added that it avoided confrontation to prevent clashes.
Labour Party also linked the dispute to a court case in Abuja. It said a Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, delivered a judgment recognising Senator Usman as interim chairman, but it claimed it has secured a stay of execution and appealed the ruling.
Based on that, the party argued that no faction should take actions outside the legal process. It called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and other agencies to intervene, warning that the situation could undermine democratic institutions if it is not addressed.
It also urged party members to remain vigilant while it continues to pursue what it described as lawful steps to resolve the crisis.