The interim Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, and her predecessor, Barrister Julius Abure, have traded blame over an alleged attack on the party’s national secretariat, with the Abure camp denying any attack on the office and accusing the Usman-led National caretaker Committee of burglary.

The Federal High Court had, while upholding the appointment of the Usman-led NCC, affirmed that Abure’s tenure as chairman had elapsed and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Senator Usman as the authentic leadership of LP.

But, barely 24 hours after taking possession of the party’s national secretariat, the Caretaker Committee disclosed that some miscreants believed to be working for unnamed sponsors tried to break into the office.

Speaking through her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Barrister Ken Eluma Asogwa, the interim chairman commended the Nigeria Police “for their swift response in flushing out the vandals and miscreants who attempted to break into the Labour Party National Secretariat last night.”

While disclosing that the arrested suspects are currently assisting the police with useful information that may lead to the identification of their sponsors, the interim leadership said it would not condone guerrilla tactics in settling political differences.

“While we continue to appreciate our supporters nationwide for their vigilance at this time, Labour Party wishes to inform the general public that, through the timely intervention of the Nigerian Police, normalcy has since been restored at the Party Secretariat.

“We also wish to warn certain members, particularly elements of the former leadership who allegedly attempted to desecrate the Secretariat under the cover of darkness, that the Party will no longer tolerate acts of brigandage from within its ranks.

“The judgment of the Nigerian court is clear and unambiguous regarding the current leadership of the party. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has implemented this judgment by formally recognising Senator Nenadi Usman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha as the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Labour Party, respectively,” the party stated.

The party noted that Nigeria is a nation governed by law, not a banana republic, stressing that the rogue elements within the party bent on creating unnecessary hysteria should desist forthwith from doing so in the name of the Labour Party.

“Beyond the hoodlums already arrested, the Labour Party calls on law enforcement authorities to immediately go after all criminal elements who are using the name of the party to confuse and defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

“These charlatans, who purport to operate under the banner of the party without proper authority, are hereby warned that the party will no longer tolerate such criminality from any member, regardless of how highly placed.”

However, reacting to the development, Obiora Ifoh of the Abure-led faction denied that there was any such attempt to vandalise the LP Secretariat, but alleged that the interim leadership was merely responding to the press statement issued from his office as the LP national publicity secretary.

“Don’t mind those people, they are only reacting to my statement last night. There was no incident, we have taken inventory of they stole from our secretariat, and after we will press charges,” he stated.