LP Petitions Security Agencies Over Abure’s Nomination Forms sale

The Labour Party has taken its leadership dispute to security agencies after alleging that former national chairman Julius Abure was distributing nomination forms without approval, even after a change in the party’s leadership.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday during the screening of aspirants for the party’s primaries, National Chairman Senator Nenadi Usman said petitions had already been submitted to the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services. According to her, copies were also sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Usman said the party considered the sale and circulation of the forms illegal because the current leadership emerged through the party’s convention in Umuahia. She maintained that the convention produced a new leadership structure and that the electoral body had recognised the outcome.

She explained that the party viewed Abure’s actions as an attempt to continue operating despite the end of his tenure, adding that party officials believed the issue had already been settled.

On reports that Abure had approached the Supreme Court, Usman said the party had not received any official notice relating to an appeal. She added that the expectation within the party was that previous decisions on the leadership matter would remain unchanged.

The LP chairman also said some people seeking elective positions had already obtained forms that were not issued by the recognised party structure. She claimed that certain aspirants may have been misled into purchasing forms outside the official process.

Despite the internal dispute, Usman said interest in the party ahead of the 2027 elections remained strong. She pointed to the number of aspirants already participating in the process as a sign that the party still had public support.

According to her, three aspirants had already purchased presidential nomination forms.

She also restated the party’s position on zoning, saying the 2027 presidential ticket had been reserved for the South. She noted that the party was not opening the contest to northern aspirants under the current arrangement.

Usman further said the party was considering a consensus option but promised that screening and primary elections would be conducted openly and fairly. She said the goal was to ensure that the eventual candidate emerged through a credible process.

She added that she remained confident about the party’s chances in the next general election and expressed belief that Nigerians would decide their future leaders through the ballot.