The Labour Party (LP) leadership crisis took a fresh twist on Thursday as rival factions exchanged accusations over the recognition of Mr. Julius Abure as National Chairman by the Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the faction loyal to Senator Nenadi Usman accused Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu of “criminal collusion” with Abure, alleging that she relied on a forged court order to validate his leadership. The group’s spokesperson, Ken Eluma Asogwa, said the INEC Acting Chair ignored the Supreme Court’s April 4, 2025 ruling, which, according to them, affirmed Senator Usman as the lawful LP national chairman.
The faction further claimed that Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu invited Abure to a meeting of political party leaders on October 14, citing an FCT High Court directive that “does not exist.” “We challenge Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu to produce the so-called court order. This is nothing short of a judicial heist,” Asogwa said, calling for her arrest and prosecution. He also urged supporters to stage a peaceful protest at INEC headquarters until the Commission complies with the Supreme Court judgment.
However, the Abure-led Labour Party swiftly dismissed the allegations as malicious and unfounded. In a counter statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh, the party accused the Usman faction of attempting to blackmail INEC and the judiciary, insisting that the Commission acted in line with a valid court directive.
“The statement credited to one Ken Asogwa, who falsely claims to speak for the Labour Party, is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and discredit lawful institutions,” Ifoh said. He added that the party’s legal team had been instructed to petition the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over what it described as “unprofessional conduct” by Asogwa if he fails to retract his comments within 72 hours.
The LP maintained that INEC should not be intimidated for complying with court orders, urging the opposing group to respect judicial processes and desist from dragging the judiciary into internal party disputes.
The escalating exchanges reflect the deep divisions within the Labour Party, which has been battling multiple legal and leadership contests since 2023. With both factions invoking conflicting court interpretations, the crisis underscores the growing tension between political actors and electoral institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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