2027: LP rules out automatic ticket for Obi

File photo: Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

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The Labour Party leadership has ruled out handing automatic tickets to any aspirant ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that even its most recognisable figure, former presidential candidate Peter Obi, must go through competitive primaries if he chooses to return to the fold.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, stated this in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, amid intensifying uncertainty over Obi’s political direction and the deepening rift between the former Anambra governor and the Julius Abure-led LP leadership.

Ifoh stressed that the party remained open to reconciliation with Obi and other aggrieved stakeholders but maintained that its internal democratic processes would not be compromised.

He said, “We have answered this question several times. The Labour Party has constantly said that the issue of tickets will be determined at the party’s convention. The NEC has spoken concerning our presidential candidacy.

“Every candidate must emerge through a democratically convened convention. There is no automatic ticket for anyone, whether as presidential, governorship or chairmanship aspirants.”

He added that Obi had kept his distance from the current leadership for about a year.

“We have said that Obi’s position in Labour Party can only be answered by him. Nobody can speak for 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. And we take it like that because not only him, so many other persons have also not done much,” he said.

On why the recent NEC meeting did not address the Obi matter, Ifoh explained that the session was dedicated to kick-starting congresses and primaries.

“The NEC meeting we had was to kick-start our congresses, which we have conducted successfully. It was extremely successful. Did you see some of our viral videos and pictures? But in Abia State, there was a court injunction, which we, as a party, upheld and obeyed.

“Everything is going on well with us. We have conducted primaries in the Ekiti State. We will soon repeat same in Osun and INEC is working with us. The commission monitored everything. They gave us key codes to upload our candidates.

“So we don’t really have a problem. We are already moving and we are hoping that by 2027, we would have achieved everything we ser to do,” he added.

The strained relationship between Obi and Labour Party National Chairman, Julius Abure, dates back to the turbulent aftermath of the 2023 presidential election.

Obi’s camp repeatedly accused Abure’s leadership of mishandling party funds, failure to account for campaign donations, and attempt to consolidate control of party structures without broader consultation, allegations that Abure repeatedly dismissed.

Multiple internal factions also challenged Abure’s legitimacy in court, a crisis that often left Obi publicly distancing himself from internal disputes.

Party insiders said Obi was uncomfortable with what he saw as persistent infighting, conflicting court orders, and the perception that Abure’s leadership was undermining efforts to institutionalise a reform-driven political movement.

The national chairman’s insistence on retaining control of key organs, despite pressure from the Obidient base, further widened the gulf.

By early 2024, Obi had quietly withdrawn from most LP activities, and communication between both camps virtually collapsed, giving rise to his current political ambiguity.

The Labour Party’s latest position comes just days after the African Democratic Congress urged Obi to decide whether he will join its emerging coalition ahead of the 2027 polls.

Although the ADC acknowledges Obi’s political influence, the coalition insists it will not alter its principles or zoning arrangements to accommodate him.

Obi was recently quoted in a YouTube interview as expressing concern over “instability” within the ADC coalition — an interview his media office later denied granting.

ADC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, maintained that zoning was not on the table, saying, “If that is the condition for Obi to join us, maybe he should wait till that time.”

Obi’s ally and former campaign spokesman, Yunusa Tanko, however, appealed to the ADC to give the former Anambra governor more time, saying he must embark on “wide consultation” before taking a final position on his political future.

The PUNCH journalist, Adebayo, has over 20 years of experience covering politics, health, metro, entertainment and properties

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