Politics

LP Leadership Crisis Deepens as Usman Seeks Abure’s Arrest

ByTitilope Adako

PublishedFebruary 16, 2026

The leadership crisis in the Labour Party escalated on Monday as the Nenadi Usman-led National Working Committee called for the arrest and prosecution of former National Chairman, Julius Abure, over an alleged invasion of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

At a press conference at the secretariat, Usman accused Abure and his supporters of attacking the premises, threatening party officials, and removing sensitive materials, including laptops, financial documents, and official registration records.

She also alleged that billboards bearing her image were destroyed.

Usman said the party had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services, and other security agencies to act.

She added, “We demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of Julius Abure and others for criminal invasion, contempt of court, impersonation, and threats to constitutional democracy in Nigeria. Nigeria is a constitutional democracy governed by laws, not a chaotic arena of impunity and brigandage as imagined by Mr Julius Abure and others.”

The interim national chairman said the alleged operation lasted over 30 minutes, with Abure’s supporters posting about it on social media, effectively confirming the raid.

She accused them of misrepresenting facts in subsequent statements and defying judicial orders and INEC regulations.

Abure’s camp dismissed the claims as false in a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh.

They alleged that some persons scaled the secretariat fence around 1 a.m. on February 10, removed the party’s billboard, and replaced it with Usman’s.

Ifoh questioned how Usman gained access to the offices, insisting that there had been no formal handover.

He said, “Until the final determination of the matter at the appellate courts, he cannot claim to be the rightful possessor of the office. We have since stayed the execution of the lower court’s judgment and appealed because we believe justice was denied.”

He urged the public to disregard Usman’s press conference, describing it as “ill-advised, done in bad faith, and an attempt to tarnish the party’s leadership.”

Titilope Adako

Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.