The interim National Chairman of the Labour Party Nigeria, Nenadi Usman, has stated that the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would not be able to run on its platform in the 2027 elections due to legal constraints tied to membership deadlines.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Usman explained that the party’s membership register must be officially closed at least 21 days before its primary elections and submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Once that process is completed, no new entrant can be added to the register for the purpose of contesting.
She emphasised that this requirement, as outlined in the Electoral Act, makes it legally impossible for anyone to join the party after the deadline and still participate in the primaries.
Usman acknowledged Obi’s significant role in boosting the party’s performance in the 2023 elections, noting that he had convinced her and many others to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Labour Party at the time.
She added that her decision to leave the PDP was influenced by concerns over fairness, particularly the party’s failure to zone its presidential ticket to the southern region.
The Labour Party has been dealing with an internal leadership crisis since the last general elections, with rival factions contesting control of the party structure. The dispute involved Usman’s caretaker committee and supporters of former chairman Julius Abure.
Court rulings have since recognised Usman’s leadership, with both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal affirming her position while directing INEC to engage only her faction pending a national convention. However, the matter is yet to be fully resolved, as Abure has indicated plans to challenge the decisions at the Supreme Court.
The prolonged crisis has weakened the party’s structure, leading to defections and a decline in its political influence. Obi himself reportedly cited the instability within the party as a key factor in his exit. Meanwhile, Usman’s leadership has begun revalidating membership and has already zoned the party’s 2027 presidential ticket to the southern region.
- Arise TV