LP Crisis: In A Counter Move, Abure Retakes Party’s National Secretariat

The Julius Abure-led Labour Party, LP, has staged a counter takeover of the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, the nation’s capital, few hours after the Nenadi Usman group party took over the Secretariat.

The National Publicity Secreary of the Abure group , Obiorah Ifoh made the announcement late night on Tueaday, saying the party will take legal action against the Usman group for destroying some properties, when they stormed the secretariat early on Tuesday to assert control.

The magazine reports that the Usman group had on Tuesday declared that it had taken over the secretariat in ling with a recent Federal high court  judgment on the leadership dispute rocking the opposition party.

Ifoh, in the statement made available to journalists yesterday night said the party secretariat had been ‘recovered’ from the Usman group, who he said took it over illegally.

He also claimed that the photographs showing the banners and billboards carrying the image of Usman, has been taken down.

Ifoh said: “The Julius Abure-led leadership of the Labour Party has recovered the party’s national secretariat illegally occupied by the Abia state government and Nenadi Usman’s group earlier today.

“However, the leadership of the party has since recovered its secretariat after it was discovered that the operation by Nenadi and the deputy governor of Abia state was illegal and unauthorised.

The spokesman warned that the party has taken inventory of what was destroyed when the Usman group forcefully took over the secretariat, saying they will be made to pay for it, as the party will seek legal redress on the issue, adding that any attempt to forcefully take over the party’s secretariat in the future will be resisted. .

According to him, “The party will take inventory of the losses and outright theft that are observed resulting from the illegal invasion, after which a formal charge will be pressed.

“We also warn that the party will no longer tolerate further attempts by some desperate politicians to impugn the lawful activities of the party. We also advise any group claiming leadership to exercise patience until the final determination of the matters at the appellate courts in the land.”

Meanwhile, the Usman faction has in its reaction to the Abure’s group action, accused the police of allowing them to take over the secretariat, saying law enforcement agennst were supposed to enforce the court judgment on the leadership crisis in the LP.

 “There is a court judgment in place that says Abure has ceased to be the national chairman of the party, and the secretariat is where their lawful duty should be performed,’ Usman said though one of her aide.

“Now, someone has just gone there to take the law into his hands by saying the judgment should not be implemented. Have we gone bananas in this country?”