The ongoing crisis in the Labour Party (LP) took a new turn on Thursday as the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee accused Julius Abure, the party’s immediate past national chairman, of leading thugs to break into the party’s national secretariat and vandalise it.
The caretaker committee, which took over the secretariat in Utako on Monday in compliance with a Federal High Court judgment, alleged that the former chairman ordered the vandalisation of offices on Tuesday night and carted away sensitive files.
Usman was appointed to head a 29-member caretaker committee during a stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia, Abia State, in May 2025.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Usman accused Abure of looting sensitive party documents, describing the development as “uncivilised”.
Reports indicated that Abure, accompanied by some former executive members, arrived at the secretariat at about 8:30pm on Tuesday with security personnel, allegedly assaulted those guarding the premises, and proceeded to ransack offices in search of documents.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier recognised Usman as chair of the party’s caretaker committee, effectively ending Abure’s tenure. In January 2026, the court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Usman-led caretaker committee as the lawful leadership of the party.
Speaking on the incident, Usman said: “On Tuesday night, right up to the early hours of Wednesday, this incident took place. We had earlier held a successful ceremony and left the premises, only to be informed that hoodlums later broke into the offices and carted away documents.
“I discovered that several documents were missing from the office. When we first took over, I saw many files, but they have now disappeared. It will take time to determine exactly what was taken, but it is a very sad development.”
She described the alleged actions as a gross disrespect for institutional processes, warning that such conduct could set a dangerous precedent if left unchecked.
“Every institution must be respected because there must be institutional memory. When you work in an office, ministry, or political party, every document belongs to that institution. When it is time to leave, you leave the documents behind so successors can build on what has been done.
“For anyone to return at night to remove documents is deeply troubling,” she said.
On preparations for the 2027 general elections, Usman said one of the committee’s first steps would be to conduct a nationwide membership revalidation exercise, including registering both new and existing members.
She described the exercise as essential to rebuilding and strengthening the party ahead of the elections.
Responding to questions about the reported defection of the party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Usman said leadership could emerge from different quarters.
“Peter Obi is just one person. God has not endowed only one individual with all abilities. Each person has their own strengths, and leadership can emerge at the appropriate time,” she said, adding that the party remained open to welcoming returning members willing to work in its interest.
A security officer at the secretariat, Aminu Salusi, also alleged that Abure arrived with former executive members and security personnel, who forced entry into the premises and removed documents.
“It happened around 8:30pm on Tuesday. They demanded the keys, and when I refused, they forced their way in and began removing files and vandalising offices,” he said.
Meanwhile, Benson Upah, Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said the labour movement would support efforts to stabilise the party.
He assured that the NLC would do its best to help maintain unity and stability within the Labour Party ahead of the next general elections.
