The Labour Party has said there will be no automatic ticket for any aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, making it clear that former presidential candidate Peter Obi must face party primaries if he plans to run under the party again.
The National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, confirmed this in an interview with The Punch as questions continue to grow over Obi’s political direction and his strained relationship with the Julius Abure-led leadership.
Ifoh said the party would not bend its internal rules for anyone. He said, “The Labour Party has constantly said that the issue of tickets will be determined at the party’s convention. Every candidate must emerge through a democratically convened convention. There is no automatic ticket for anyone, whether as presidential, governorship or chairmanship aspirants.”
He also noted that Obi had been distant from the current leadership for nearly a year. He said, “We have said that Obi’s position in Labour Party can only be answered by him. Whether he is in the ADC or Labour Party, he is the only one that can answer that question. The only thing that we know is that in the last one year, he has not really spoken with the current leadership.”
Speaking on why the party’s recent NEC meeting did not discuss Obi, Ifoh explained that the session focused solely on preparations for congresses and primaries. He said, “The NEC meeting we had was to kick-start our congresses, which we have conducted successfully. But in Abia State, there was a court injunction, which we upheld. Everything is going on well with us. We have conducted primaries in Ekiti State. We will soon repeat same in Osun and INEC is working with us.”
Tension between Obi and the Abure-led leadership dates back to the chaotic fall-out of the 2023 presidential election. People close to Obi accused the national chairman of poor fund management, lack of transparency, and attempts to tighten his grip on party structures. Abure repeatedly rejected these claims.
Legal battles from various factions also weakened the party, and insiders said Obi grew uncomfortable with the constant infighting and court cases. By early 2024, he had reduced his involvement in Labour Party affairs, leaving his political plans unclear.
The LP’s latest stance comes soon after the African Democratic Congress asked Obi to clarify his position on joining its coalition ahead of 2027. While the ADC admitted Obi’s political strength, it insisted it would not change its zoning or internal rules to suit him.
ADC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, said, “If that is the condition for Obi to join us, maybe he should wait till that time.”
In response, Obi’s former campaign spokesman, Yunusa Tanko, urged the ADC to give Obi more time. Tanko said the former Anambra governor needed “wide consultation” before making any final decision on his 2027 ambition.
