Labour Party Factions Clash Over Rumoured Attempt to Overthrow Tinubu Govt

Fresh internal wrangling has hit the Labour Party (LP) as rival factions clash over a controversial allegation suggesting that prominent figures within the party are plotting to overthrow the Bola Tinubu-led administration. The accusation, described as “dangerous” and “desperate” by party leaders, has deepened an already existing leadership crisis, exposing further cracks within the opposition party.

Arabambi’s Petition Sparks Uproar

The crisis escalated on Tuesday following a petition submitted by Abayomi Arabambi, the factional National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party. In the petition addressed to security agencies, Arabambi accused former presidential candidate Peter Obi, Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero, Senator Victor Umeh, and leaders of the Nenadi Usman faction of plotting a coup under the guise of a “One-Million Man March.”

According to Arabambi, the planned protest was a cover to forcefully reclaim the party’s former national secretariat in Utako, Abuja, which is currently under the control of the Julius Abure-led faction. He warned that such a movement posed a threat to national stability and called for the immediate intervention of security operatives to foil what he called an “unconstitutional plot.”

Arabambi’s claims have sent shockwaves through political circles, especially as they tie a peaceful protest to a treasonable offence. However, observers note that Arabambi himself belongs to one of the contending factions within the Labour Party, and his statements may be part of a wider internal power struggle.

Usman Camp Dismisses Coup Allegation as ‘Malicious Frame-Up’

Reacting swiftly, the Nenadi Usman-led faction of the party issued a sharp rebuttal. In a statement released through her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ken Asogwa, Usman described the petition as “a malicious and desperate frame-up” aimed at blackmailing party leaders and distracting Nigerians from urgent national issues.

Usman, who was affirmed by the Supreme Court in April 2025 as the interim national chairman of the party, denied any knowledge of a planned protest and insisted that the leadership had neither sanctioned nor approved any demonstration. She stated that the old Utako secretariat had been formally abandoned due to security risks and that the party had relocated to a new, safer location.

“It is, therefore, laughable and deeply suspicious for anyone to insinuate that the Labour Party intends to forcibly reclaim a building it no longer uses,” Usman said. She also confirmed that the party had written formally to security agencies, seeking enforcement of the court judgment to evict illegal occupants from the former office but had received no response.

Coup Claim is Reckless and Dangerous’ — Labour Party Leadership Warns

The Labour Party leadership strongly condemned the attempt to associate the party with a coup plot, calling it a dangerous echo of Nigeria’s darkest political moments when critics of the government were falsely accused of plotting insurrections. According to the statement, such allegations have no place in a democratic setting and could set a dangerous precedent.

“What is, however, more alarming is the fictitious and irresponsible allegation of a planned coup d’état against the Tinubu administration, a claim suspiciously lumped with this so-called ‘One Million Man March’,” Usman warned. “How an alleged protest to reclaim a party office translates to a violent toppling of a sitting government beats the imagination of any right-thinking Nigerian.”

The party chieftain described the petition as not only laughable but also a reckless attempt to weaponize state institutions against political opponents. She warned that such behavior undermines democracy and could incite political instability.

DSS Allegedly Harassing Party Officials

Adding to the tension, the LP also raised concerns that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) had begun harassing some of its senior officials following Arabambi’s petition. The party described the alleged harassment as a sign of creeping authoritarianism and urged the security agencies to refrain from being used as political tools.

“We warn that this path is a slippery slope that endangers our democracy,” the party said, calling for calm and adherence to constitutional principles. The LP said it viewed the development as part of a broader strategy to intimidate the opposition and silence voices calling for accountability in government.

The party further urged President Tinubu’s administration to demonstrate a higher tolerance for dissent, reminding authorities that peaceful protest is a democratic right enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution.

Labour Party Calls for Calm, Unity, and Vigilance

In its final remarks, the Nenadi Usman-led leadership reiterated its commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law. The party called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and not be deceived by what it termed “a poorly scripted political drama” aimed at defaming respected figures such as Peter Obi and other prominent members of the opposition.

“We remain committed to the rule of law and democratic principles, and we urge the Nigerian people to see through this poorly scripted political drama for what it truly is — an act of cowardice and desperation,” the statement concluded.

As the internal rift within the Labour Party widens, political analysts warn that if not urgently addressed, the deepening crisis could threaten the party’s cohesion ahead of future elections and weaken Nigeria’s opposition landscape. Meanwhile, calls continue to mount for an independent and thorough investigation into the claims to ensure that the truth is revealed and justice upheld.