The Labour Party has insisted that no aspirant will be granted an automatic ticket for the 2027 general elections, including its former presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, made the clarification in an exclusive interview with DAILY GAZETTE, amid growing speculation about Obi’s next political move and his strained relationship with the Julius Abure–led leadership of the party.
According to Ifoh, while the party remains open to reconciliation with Obi and other dissatisfied members, its internal democratic processes will not be compromised.
“We have said it repeatedly: all tickets will be decided at the party’s convention. Every aspirant, whether for president, governor, or chairman, must emerge through a democratic process. There is no automatic ticket for anyone,” he said.
Ifoh explained that Obi has kept his distance from the current leadership for about a year, adding that only Obi can clarify his political allegiance.
“He is the only one who can say whether he is still in the Labour Party or elsewhere. In the past year, he has not engaged with the leadership, and that is simply the reality,” he noted.
On why the issue of Obi was not discussed during the recent NEC meeting, Ifoh said the gathering was focused strictly on launching congresses and primaries.
“Our NEC meeting was to commence congresses, and we have done so successfully. INEC monitored the process and everything is moving as expected. By 2027, we hope to have achieved all that we set out to do,” he added.
The tension between Obi and the Abure-led leadership dates back to the aftermath of the 2023 presidential election.
Obi’s camp accused the chairman of financial mismanagement, lack of transparency, and attempts to seize control of party structures, accusations Abure consistently denied.
The disputes triggered multiple internal factions and court cases, further deepening the rift.
Party insiders say Obi became frustrated with the persistent infighting and leadership tussles, which he believed undermined efforts to build a credible reform-driven movement.
By early 2024, he had withdrawn from most party activities, leaving his political future uncertain.
The Labour Party’s latest position comes as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) renews calls for Obi to decide whether he will join its emerging coalition for the 2027 polls.
Although the ADC has acknowledged Obi’s political weight, it insists it will not bend its internal principles or zoning arrangements to accommodate him.
ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi said, “If zoning is the condition for Obi to join us, then maybe he should wait.”
Obi’s close ally and former campaign spokesperson, Yunusa Tanko, urged the ADC to give the former governor more time, noting that Obi must conduct broad consultations before making a final decision.
