Heavy security as Nenadi Usman takes over LP secretariat
A major shift in the leadership of the Labour Party (LP) played out under heavy security presence on Tuesday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, as Senator Nenadi Esther Usman formally assumed control from the rival faction led by Julius Abure. The event, which drew intense political interest and heightened security, capped months of internal disputes, parallel leadership claims and court battles over who legitimately leads Nigeria’s third largest political party. 
At the party national headquarters in Utake, Abuja, dozens of armed policemen, stern-looking officers and uniformed security personnel stood guard within and around the premises as supporters, party members, journalists and staff were screened before being allowed entry. All banners and billboards featuring the faces of the embattled Abure faction had been taken down and replaced with images of Usman and the leadership team aligned with her camp. 
Usman’s takeover of the LP secretariat comes in the wake of a Federal High Court judgment that ended the tenure of Julius Abure as National Chairman and recognised a caretaker committee led by Usman pending the conduct of a national convention. The court ruling followed a prolonged period of internal factional disputes that saw competing claims of authority within the party after the 2023 general elections. 
Heavy Security as Tensions Ease at Secretarial Handover
The heavy presence of police at the Labour Party national secretariat underlined the sensitive nature of the leadership change. Visitors to the site on Tuesday were required to present valid identification and undergo security checks before being admitted into the building, reinforcing the impression that authorities were keen to prevent any breakdown of law and order. 
Security officials were positioned strategically around the secretariat’s perimeter, a scene that contrasted with the relative calm of the handover ceremony itself. Despite the heightened presence of security forces, there was no reported violence or breach of the public peace on the day. Party members entered and exited the secretariat as the takeover preparations continued. 
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Usman’s Statement and the Political Backdrop
Through her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ken Asogwa, Usman confirmed the development in a phone interview. She said the police were invited by her team to ensure a smooth transition and to act in line with the court’s directive. “Yes, the police mounting guard at the national secretariat were invited by our people. They are there to perform their duties as per the court’s judgment… we only wrote to the police to provide cover for us this morning,” she stated. 
Usman dismissed the possibility of confrontation with the Abure faction, noting that the former leadership had already vacated the premises following the court’s decision. “There can’t be any confrontation from Abure. On what leg or basis is he standing to confront anybody? The same Abure… has since moved all his belongings from that office,” she said. 
The court judgment referenced, delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja, held that Abure’s tenure had elapsed and directed that the caretaker committee headed by Usman be recognised as the legitimate authority. While Abure’s supporters had previously rallied against similar court rulings, insisting the matter was an internal party affair, the fresh decision brought a degree of finality that has now translated into the dramatic handover at the secretariat. 
Background to the Leadership Crisis
The struggle for control of the Labour Party has been a defining political drama since the last general election. Abure, who served as LP National Chairman until early 2026, has faced opposition from various quarters — including former party stalwarts, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and state chapters — over allegations of financial improprieties and claims of extended tenure beyond constitutional limits. 
The Supreme Court, in 2025, ruled that the apex court lacked jurisdiction to decide internal party leadership matters — a verdict that initially undercut Abure’s challengers. However, subsequent litigation led to the Federal High Court stepping in to validate the caretaker leadership arrangement, paving the way for the Usman faction to assume formal control. 
The removal of Abure’s banners and their replacement with images of Usman and her national leadership team has symbolic significance. It signals not only a change of guard at the party’s national nerve centre but also a broader attempt by Usman’s faction to consolidate influence ahead of future electoral cycles and internal party reforms. 
Reactions From Within and Outside the Party
Reactions to the heavy security and transition have been mixed. Supporters of Usman have welcomed the handover, pointing to judicial backing and the need for organisational stability within the Labour Party. Many observers described the takeover as long overdue and a necessary step toward ending protracted factionalism that has weakened the party’s national credibility. 
Critics, including loyalists of the former Abure leadership, have hinted at possible legal appeals and have accused the Federal High Court’s interpretation of the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling of inconsistency and overreach — arguments that Abure’s camp continues to advance publicly. But on the ground in Abuja, Tuesday’s calm takeover suggested that most resistance had dissipated and that a new chapter for the party was beginning. 
Why It Matters
The heavy security deployment as Nenadi Usman takes over the Labour Party secretariat highlights broader issues of internal democracy, party governance and judicial intervention in political party affairs in Nigeria. Coalitions within parties, interactions with courts, and how security forces are involved in politically sensitive transitions are all part of the complex terrain of Nigeria’s evolving democratic culture. 
For supporters of the Labour Party and Nigeria’s wider political observers, Tuesday’s handover — under strict security observation — may mark a turning point in the resolution of long-standing disputes that have threatened the party’s unity and effectiveness. Whether this move will galvanise the LP ahead of future elections or further entrench divisions remains to be seen, but it is clear that the era of heavy security and high stakes politics at the LP secretariat has entered a new phase.
Heavy security as Nenadi Usman takes over LP secretariat
