A brewing storm within the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has escalated into a high-stakes confrontation, centering on allegations that House of Representatives member Afam Ogene unlawfully obtained a classified government document. The party’s leadership has not only threatened expulsion and a recall process against Ogene but has also called for a criminal investigation, accusing him of leveraging sensitive information to wage a “cyber-bullying” campaign against top officials.

In a fiery statement issued Tuesday, Labour Party National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh accused Ogene, who represents Ogbaru Federal Constituency, of “poor performance” as a lawmaker and alleged he had acquired a confidential document linked to the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP). Ifoh demanded that the police “immediately invite and interrogate” Ogene to explain how he accessed material he claimed was “not meant for public consumption.”

 

“How is a lawmaker, whose duty is to legislate, suddenly in possession of classified documents meant for the IGP or AGF?” Ifoh questioned, insinuating potential misconduct. He tied the allegations to Ogene’s recent suspension from the party, alleging the lawmaker had “resorted to fighting dirty” in retaliation.

While the contents of the document remain undisclosed, its alleged connection to the AGF’s office has raised eyebrows. Legal experts speculate it could relate to ongoing investigations or sensitive policy matters. Nigerian law strictly regulates the handling of classified materials under the Official Secrets Act, which criminalizes unauthorized possession or disclosure.

Attempts to reach Ogene for comment were unsuccessful, leaving the allegations unchallenged publicly. His suspension, purportedly for “incapability to lead the party’s caucus” in the National Assembly, underscores deeper factional rifts within the Labour Party. Analysts note the party has grappled with internal strife since its unexpected gains in the 2023 elections, which amplified competing leadership ambitions.

Expelling Ogene from the party would require a majority vote by Labour’s National Executive Committee. A recall, however, poses a higher bar: Nigeria’s Electoral Act mandates that over 50% of registered voters in a lawmaker’s constituency sign a petition to trigger a recall referendum—a rarely successful maneuver historically used more as a threat than a practical tool.

The scandal highlights recurring tensions in Nigerian politics, where accusations of misconduct often intertwine with intra-party power struggles. Similar battles have recently rocked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), suggesting a pattern of leveraging legal and procedural weapons to sideline rivals.