The leadership crisis within the Labour Party (LP) escalated on Monday as opposing groups clashed at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja. The conflict arose when members of the Edo State chapter gathered to demand the ratification of their decision to suspend Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the party.
Supporters of Abure confronted the anti-Abure protesters, leading to a tense standoff that nearly turned violent. Security forces intervened to prevent the situation from worsening. Despite resistance, the protesters managed to pull down barriers at the secretariat, though no national officials were present to address them.
Following their demonstration at the party headquarters, the anti-Abure group moved to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deliver a letter from the Edo State Executive Council, seeking intervention in the party leadership dispute.
Last week, the Ward 3 executive in Arue, Utomi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State suspended Abure. However, the Labour Party’s national leadership dismissed this suspension as illegal and unconstitutional, stating that the Edo State executives lacked the authority to take such action. The national leadership emphasized that the suspension contravened the party’s constitution.