By Jude Opara, Abuja
The Sen. Nenadi Usman led faction of the Labour Party (LP) on Wednesday raised the alarm over a petition allegedly addressed to the National Security Adviser (NSA) and authored by its former National Publicity Secretary (NPS), Abayomi Arabambi.
In a statement issued by Ken Eluma Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser, Media, to the Interim National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman said the petition accused prominent leaders of the party including its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, the senator representing Anambra Central, Sen. Victor Umeh, the Coordinator of the ‘Obidients movement’, Dr. Yunusa Tanko and many others of planning a violent overthrow of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, by organizing a “One Million Man March”.
“The attention of the Labour Party has been drawn to a malicious petition addressed to the National Security Adviser, allegedly authored by one Abayomi Arabambi, who continues to falsely parade himself as the spokesman of our party.
“In the said petition, Arabambi accused prominent leaders of the Labour Party, including Mr. Peter Obi, Comrade Joe Ajaero, Senator Victor Umeh, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, and Dr. Yunusa Tanko, of plotting a violent overthrow of the Bola Tinubu administration under the guise of organising a “One Million Man March.”‘
According to the statement, the phantom petition further alleged that the said protest, was scheduled for Wednesday, 30th July 2025, was aimed at reclaiming the former National Secretariat of the party currently occupied by the factional chairman, Barr. Julius Abure, at Utako, Abuja.
The party denied any knowledge of the said planned protest, either in Abuja or in any part of the country, adding that as a law abiding party, there is no way they will attempt forcefully to reclaim the National Secretariait despite the fact that the Supreme Court has ruled in their favour.
“Let it be stated unequivocally: the leadership of the Labour Party is not aware of any planned protest anywhere in Nigeria under the auspices of the party. We have neither authorised nor sanctioned any individual or group to march on the streets in the name of reclaiming a property the party has long abandoned.
“As a law-abiding political party, following the Supreme Court’s ruling of 4th April 2025, which affirmed Senator Nenadi Usman’s leadership, we have formally notified relevant law enforcement agencies – urging them to enforce the judgment by vacating the illegal occupants of the former secretariat. Regrettably, the inertia of these agencies forced the party to relocate to a new and more secure location. Since then, the party has moved on, fully focused on its core mission.
“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.
“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. 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.
“This is not merely a reckless lie – it is a dangerous and desperate attempt to frame up respected leaders of the Labour Party in a phoney plot to destabilise the nation. It is a throwback to a dark era when individuals were roped into phantom coup plots simply for opposing the government of the day.
“We are already aware that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have begun harassing key party officials on the strength of this concocted tale. We warn that this path is a slippery slope that endangers our democracy”.
The party advised the security agencies to thoroughly investigate this petition and unmask the true faces behind what it described as a sinister agenda to heat up the polity through deceit, misinformation, and fear.
