Tensions escalated in the Labour Party (LP) on Friday as the faction loyal to embattled National Chairman Julius Abure increased security around the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, citing threats of an imminent takeover by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
When Sunday PUNCH visited the secretariat, at least six armed police officers and several private security guards were stationed on the premises.
The heightened security comes amid growing concerns over the NLC’s directive for union chapters nationwide to mobilise and seize control of the LP’s offices across all 36 states and at the national level.
Confirming the development, LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said the security deployment was a precaution based on intelligence reports of a potential invasion by NLC affiliates.
“We are simply taking precautionary measures,” Ifoh stated. “After the NLC issued threats to seize our secretariat earlier this year, we informed the police and other security agencies.
As a law-abiding party, we won’t engage in violence, but we have a duty to protect our facilities—especially after NLC President Joe Ajaero publicly vowed to take over the secretariat.”
The latest confrontation revives tensions stemming from a March 21 incident, when Ajaero and several union leaders reportedly stormed the LP headquarters.
The Abure faction claimed the move was an attempt to seize sensitive documents and party funds.
Despite mounting pressure, the Abure-led National Working Committee insists it will not yield to what it calls “unlawful interference” by the NLC, maintaining that the party remains autonomous and constitutionally governed.