Labour Party faction protest warning issued as Usman group urges security agencies to arrest Abure loyalists planning protest at INEC headquarters
Labour Party faction protest warning has escalated tensions within the party, as the group led by Interim National Chairman Senator Nenadi Usman called for the arrest and prosecution of any member participating in a planned protest at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters.
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The protest, allegedly organized by the rival Julius Abure faction, was aimed at challenging INEC’s rejection of its list of candidates for the upcoming August 16 by-elections.
However, the Usman-led faction has disowned the protest, describing the organizers as “impostors” and “political impersonators.”
In a strongly-worded statement signed by Ken Asogwa, the Senior Special Adviser on Media, the Usman faction declared that it had not sanctioned any protest.
“The organisers are unknown to the party’s leadership, and the action lacks the approval and backing of the Labour Party,” the statement read.
The faction further warned the public and security agencies that any individual participating in the protest is acting without the party’s consent and should face legal consequences.
They are political impersonators and mischief-makers and should be treated as such. We call for their immediate arrest and prosecution.
This Labour Party faction protest warning comes amid a deepening leadership crisis that has split the party into competing camps.
At the heart of the dispute is the Supreme Court judgement of April 4, 2025, which the Usman faction claims affirmed that Abure’s leadership tenure expired on June 8, 2023.
The statement also applauded INEC’s rejection of Abure’s candidate list, urging the Commission to remain firm and publish the list submitted by the court-recognised leadership.
“The Labour Party received that decision with relief, knowing that INEC would eventually accept the authentic list submitted by the lawful leadership,” the faction added.
It further called on INEC to update its website and official portals to reflect the current leadership structure as declared by the courts.
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With by-elections looming and internal conflict deepening, the Labour Party faction protest warning marks yet another flashpoint in a power struggle that threatens to destabilize the party ahead of 2027.
