February 13, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
The ongoing crisis within Nigeria’s Labour Party (LP) has intensified, with the faction led by Barrister Julius Abure alleging that police officers acted in concert with a rival faction to seize control of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja an accusation that threatens to deepen divisions just over a year before the 2027 general elections.
In a statement disseminated on Thursday, the Abure-aligned wing of the party claimed that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force were complicit in allowing members of the Nenadi Usman faction into the Labour Party’s headquarters in Utako, effectively blocking Abure and his allies from accessing their offices. The faction also maintains that the police shielded the rival group while restricting entry to recognized executives.
According to the Abure faction, the security deployment followed an ongoing leadership dispute between the two camps, with the rival Usman group which has been endorsed by a Federal High Court ruling and recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) — moving to assert control of the secretariat. In response, Abure’s supporters have petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate what they describe as biased actions by police officers that favored the rival faction.
The statement alleges that at around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, unidentified individuals scaled the party compound to remove signage connected to the Abure leadership and replace it with banners associated with the Usman group. Police from the Life Camp Area Command reportedly barricaded the premises shortly afterward, preventing Abure and other senior members from entering. Only individuals listed by police were reportedly allowed inside.
While the Abure faction maintains it will pursue lawful avenues to resolve the dispute and protect what it calls its legitimate leadership, tensions have also escalated in public commentary. The Usman faction and its supporters assert that Abure loyalists attempted to break into the party’s headquarters at night and cause disruption claims that Abure’s camp denies.
Analysts view the dispute as damaging to the Labour Party’s public image, particularly given its proximity to national elections. The clash highlights deeper issues of internal governance and institutional integrity at a time when the party seeks to rebuild after significant defections and legal setbacks. Political commentators have warned that such conflicts may erode public trust and weaken the party’s electoral prospects unless resolved through transparent and legal mechanisms.
As of this report, the Nigeria Police Force has not issued an official response to the allegations of partiality raised by the Abure faction.