The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has accused Abia State Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, Senator Nenadi Usman, and others of breaking into the party’s National Secretariat, carting away valuables, and barring staff from gaining access.

The Guardian reported that Senator Usman, who is the acting chairman of the party, and others took control of the secretary on Tuesday amid tight security.

In a statement, the spokesperson for the Abure-led faction of the party, Obiorah Ifoh, condemned the takeover, describing it as an invasion.

Ifoh stated that hoodlums invaded the secretariat around 1 am early on Tuesday to pull down the party’s billboards and replace them with those of Senator Usman.

He stated that the takeover of the secretariat was aided by eight truckloads of police, who prevented party officers and staff from gaining entry, ensuring that only members of the Nenadi Interim leadership were granted access.

“The Abure-led leadership is dumbfounded by the invasion of its secretariat by Nenadi camp, aided by police in the early hours of Tuesday. Accompanied by the Abia State Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, Senator Nenadi ordered his hoodlums to break into all the offices and cart away files and other materials.

“When some of our senior officials came to office in the morning, we were prevented by the police. We refused to confront them to avoid clashes and confrontations, choosing peaceful approach.

“It is on record that a Federal High Court in FCT gave a judgment which recognised Senator Usman as the Interim Chairman of the Labour Party. However, the party leadership has obtained a Stay of Execution and has since appealed the judgment. It is therefore inappropriate and needless for any group to resort to self-help by illegally breaking into the National Secretariat,” Ifoh said.

He called on the police, the Department of State Security, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and other relevant agencies to take note of the unlawful invasion of the party’s secretariat.

“If this anomaly is not checked, it is a pointer that our democracy and its institutions are being threatened. We are also calling on our party faithful to remain vigilant as the party leadership is doing everything within the law to ensure that justice is not denied the party,” he said.