The Barr Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has accused the Abia State deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, and members of the Sen Nenadi Usman-led party executives of forcefully breaking into and occupying the party’s national secretariat on Tuesday.
National publicity secretary of the Abure-led Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, who described the action as an invasion, recounted that security personnel at the Secretariat said that hoodlums invaded the Secretariat around 1am early on Tuesday to pull down party’s billboards and replaced them with that of the Nenadi Usman.
Earlier on the same Tuesday, Usman-led exco, accompanied by the Abia State deputy governor, resumed office at the party’s national secretariat which was hitherto occupied by the Abure-led exco.
Both camps have been locked in a tussle. However, the court and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently recognized the Usman-led Exco as the legitimate party leadership.
But Ifoh, in a statement, said the invasion aided by eight Truck-load of Policemen, refused entrance officers and staff of the party and ensured only names of members of Nenadi Interim leadership were given access into the Secretariat.
“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 carted files and other materials alongside.
“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 judgement which recognized 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 judgement. It is therefore inappropriate and needless for any group to resort to self-help by illegally breaking into the National Secretariat.
“We are by this statement calling on the Police, Department of State Security, office of the National Security Adviser and other relevant agencies to take note of the unlawful invasion of our party 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 faithfuls to remain vigilant as the party leadership is doing everything within the law to ensure that justice is not denied the party,” Ifoh said in the statement.
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