The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has claimed that its presidential candidate from the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, is muddled about his intentions as the 2027 elections approach.
The party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, issued a statement on Monday, signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiorah Ifoh, stating that reports of the party ‘celebrating’ Obi’s announcement to contest on its platform in 2027 are untrue.
Obi may have precluded his participation in the coalition that intends to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) by informing his supporters of his intention to run for the 2027 general elections as a Labour Party candidate.
He made these remarks while addressing a group of young supporters in a video that circulated on Saturday via the party’s WhatsApp platform.
When asked about the platform on which he planned to contest the 2027 elections, Obi responded, “I will continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party.”
Nonetheless, the party clarified that the impression given by the news regarding a celebration of Obi’s declaration was incorrect and did not accurately represent the party’s position or sentiment.
“Firstly, while we are not against anyone contesting under the Labour Party’s banner in the 2027 general elections, we must categorically state that the party has established rules regarding how its candidates shall emerge, and an automatic ticket is not one of those options.
“Recall that during the party’s National Convention in 2024, the party mistakenly granted automatic tickets to our former presidential candidate and the sole governor of the party. However, that decision has since been revoked and annulled after reviewing the statute books.
“Secondly, His Excellency, Peter Obi, just hours after announcing his intention to run under the Labour Party, was seen on Sunday attending a meeting of a pro-coalition group in Abuja without the prior approval of the Labour Party leadership.
“This situation is puzzling to us, and we believe that Peter Obi has not fully grasped his intentions for the 2027 presidential race,” Ifoh remarked.
He reiterated that the party has consistently declared that the Labour Party would not enter into any coalition or merger ahead of the 2027 general elections, noting that Obi’s ongoing involvement with the coalition is not only unwelcome but unacceptable to the party.
He concluded, “It is also an affront to the party leadership, and we consider his actions a complete disregard for the party’s right to make decisions regarding its own affairs.
“Thus, through this statement, we are informing Nigerians that the presidency for 2027 is available to anyone who wishes to contest under the party’s platform,” he added.
