The Labour Party (LP) has raised an alarm over what it describes as an alleged plot by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to storm its national secretariat in Abuja with hired thugs, in collaboration with factions of the party.
The LP’s National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, made the claim in a statement issued on Sunday.
The statement alleges that the NLC was working alongside the Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee (NCC) and the National Transition Committee (NTC) to carry out the planned invasion.
According to the statement, the planned action—allegedly funded by the Abia State government and an unnamed party leader—is expected to begin on Monday, April 7.
Ibrahim warned that the attempt would involve the forceful entry into party offices, the theft of sensitive documents, and the vandalization of party property.
The statement reads in part: “It has come to the knowledge of the leadership of the LP that the NLC is mobilising its members, hired thugs and miscreants… to invade the National Secretariat of our party.”
The LP accused the NLC of overstepping its bounds as a labour union by allegedly interfering in partisan political matters, which it said contravenes the legal framework establishing the congress.
The party referred to the April 5 Supreme Court ruling, insisting it affirmed that party leadership matters are internal affairs to be handled by political parties themselves.
“There is nowhere in the judgment that gave the NLC or any caretaker committee the authority to take over the leadership of the Labour Party,” the statement added.
The party reaffirmed that Barrister Julius Abure remains the duly elected National Chairman, having emerged from the March 2024 national convention.
It also called on security agencies, including the Nigeria Police and Department of State Services (DSS), to intervene and prevent any breach of peace in the Federal Capital Territory.
