Armed security officers were deployed on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at the national secretariat of the Labour Party, a Nigerian opposition political party, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, as Senator Nenadi Usman moved to take charge as acting National Chairman.
Reporters who visited the office in Utako, a district in Abuja, observed police officers positioned inside and around the premises.
Party banners and billboards carrying images of Julius Abure and his executive team were removed and replaced with those of Usman.
Supporters, party members, and journalists were screened at entry points and were asked to identify themselves before they were allowed into the secretariat.
Usman confirmed the development in a phone interview through her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ken Asogwa, saying the security presence followed a court decision. She said, “We only wrote to the police to provide cover for us this morning. So, the police are there for us.”
Sources within the party said the interim leadership also asked members to begin preparations to take over other Labour Party secretariats across Nigeria’s states.
After the interview, the interim leadership circulated an invitation to journalists to witness an official event scheduled for 11:00 in the morning, West African Time (WAT, GMT+1), at the secretariat in Utako, Abuja.
On the other side, Obiora Ifoh, described as a factional National Publicity Secretary aligned with Abure, said his camp would respond officially and pointed to an ongoing appeal process. He said, “We will make our position on this issue known very soon.”
The dispute follows a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja last month which held that Abure’s tenure had elapsed and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, Nigeria’s election management body, to recognise a caretaker committee led by Usman pending a national convention.
INEC later reflected Usman’s name as acting National Chairman on its website, and other officials listed include Senator Darlington Nwokocha as National Secretary; Hamisu Santuraki as National Treasurer; Aisha Madije as National Financial Secretary; and Eric Ifere as National Legal Adviser.