The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Egbetokun Kayode, over complicity of police in the alleged invasion of its Secretariat.

Factional Deputy National Chairman of the party, Ayo Olorunfemi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

Olorunfemi said for the past one year, there has been all manner of threats by some disgruntled elements in the Labour Party to picket, invade and occupy the National Secretariat in Abuja.

He stated that the threats were coming either from the Abia State government, the Nigeria Labour Congress, the self styled Labour Party Stakeholders, the faceless Board of Trustees and recently, the illegal Interim National Working Committee.

According to him, on several occasions, they have actually made good their threats by breaking into the Secretariat but were met with stiff resistance.

“However, the latest invasion was carried out at around 1am early on Tuesday February 10, when some hoodlums according to security personnel at the Secretariat scaled into the party compound to pull down party’s billboards and replaced them with that of the Nenadi Usman.

“By the dawn of the day, we also noticed the unfortunate role played by the men of the Nigeria Police Force.

“To our chagrin, police officers from Area Command, Life Camp barricaded the entrance gate and prevented our National Chairman, National Secretary and some other National Officers from entering their offices.

“The police officers, however, were permitting the persons from a list in their possession who the police officers insisted were the only persons permitted to access their offices, including the Abia state deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu and Senator Nenadi Usman, amongst others. Senator Nenadi Usman also addressed a press conference with police protection.

“Upon our audience with the Commissioner of Police, FCT on the said Tuesday, we were directed to meet the Area Commander, Life Camp. The Area Commander assured us that the situation will be reversed as the Police must maintain professionalism and neutrality in internal affairs of Political Parties. Based on that understanding, we went ahead to reclaim our Secretariat,” the statement read in part.

Labour Party petitions IGP over alleged police complicity in invasion of secretariat