The Labour Party (LP) has formally petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over alleged police complicity in the occupation of its National Secretariat in Utako, Abuja, amid an ongoing leadership dispute.
In a statement signed by Deputy National Chairman Ayo Olorunfemi on February 13, the party accused the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of taking sides by barring members of the Abure-led National Working Committee from accessing their offices, while permitting entry to a rival faction claiming leadership under a self-styled National Caretaker Committee headed by Senator Nenadi Usman.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday when, according to security personnel, individuals forced their way into the party compound, removed LP billboards, and replaced them with those of the Usman-led faction.
By dawn, police officers from the Area Command, Life Camp, had reportedly barricaded the Secretariat gate, allowing only select individuals—among them Usman and Ikechukwu Emetu—entry.
Olorunfemi described the police actions as partial, asserting that if access to the Secretariat was to be restricted, no faction should have been allowed entry.
The party also dismissed claims by Usman that the Abure-led executive had forcibly removed files, noting that the offices remained under the control of the legally recognized leadership.
The LP challenged police reports of arrests at the Secretariat, stating that only three individuals were detained—one being the party’s FCT State Secretary, who resides on the premises, and two others performing routine tasks.
This dispute followed intelligence received by the LP in late January warning of potential intrusion, prompting earlier communication with the police.
The party argued that the rival faction had resorted to “self-help” rather than following legal channels for resolving leadership disagreements.
“We implore the IGP to direct police officers to maintain professionalism and neutrality in their current engagement at the Labour Party National Headquarters,” the statement read, emphasising that all lawful avenues were being pursued to protect the party’s legitimate leadership.
As of publication, the Nigeria Police Force had not issued an official response to the allegations. Meanwhile, the Labour Party has called on its supporters to remain calm and allow the legal process to determine the resolution of the leadership crisis.
