NIGERIA: Labour Party Declares 2027 Presidential Ticket Open

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Labour Party (LP) has announced that its presidential ticket for the 2027 general elections is open to all aspirants, ruling out the possibility of giving automatic candidacy to any individual, including its 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, made the declaration at a press conference held in Abuja on Friday.

Arabambi stated that the party would conduct primary elections following democratic principles and emphasised that no aspirant would be granted undue advantage.

He said: “There shall be primary elections in the Labour Party, and no aspirant will be favoured this time around.”

Peter Obi, who contested under the LP in 2023 and finished third according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), recently aligned with a coalition movement under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and expressed his intention to contest in the 2027 election.

Reacting to Obi’s alignment with the ADC-led coalition, Arabambi criticised the move, describing the coalition as a platform made up of individuals responsible for the country’s political and economic setbacks between 2015 and 2023.

Arabambi added: “We wish Obi well in his coalition, but the Labour Party presidential ticket is now open to all Nigerians. There will be no special treatment or automatic candidacy.”

He also described Obi’s emergence as the LP candidate in 2023 as a mistake, stating that the party would correct it by ensuring a transparent and inclusive selection process ahead of the next election.

He noted: “The 2023 selection was a blunder with lasting consequences. The party must learn from it and reposition itself for 2027.”

Arabambi maintained that the Labour Party remains committed to internal democracy and national development, and will not be swayed by populist politics or external pressure.

As of the time of filing this report, Peter Obi has not yet issued a response to the statements made by the party.