The Labour Party (LP) has announced that there will be no automatic ticket for Peter Obi or any other candidate in the upcoming 2027 elections.
This decision was made during a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Monday.
Innocent Okeke, the party’s Deputy National Secretary, read out the resolution, stating, “All party tickets, from the Presidency to the House of Assemblies, are open to all qualified Nigerians.”
This decision applies to all electoral positions, including the governorship seat held by Alex Otti in Abia State.
The party’s stance comes amid recent controversies surrounding internal party politics.
Governor Alex Otti had attempted to dissolve and replace party structures, including the National Working Committee and National Executive Council, but the NEC declared these actions unconstitutional.
Okeke emphasized that Otti’s actions violated the party’s constitution, stating, “The governor of Abia does not have the power to call his ward executive meeting without the approval and consent of his ward chairman.”
The party’s constitution outlines procedures for removing officials at various levels.
The NEC granted the National Working Committee authority to take disciplinary action against members who bring the party into disrepute, a move seen as a response to Governor Otti’s actions.
Julius Abure, the National Chairman, described Otti’s actions as a “betrayal” in a speech titled “The Beautiful Ones are not Yet Born in Nigeria.” Abure stated.
He added, “This action was not just illegal, it was a betrayal of everything the Labour Party stands for.” He emphasized the party’s commitment to unity and its role as a “beacon of hope for the oppressed, marginalized, and voiceless in Nigeria.”
The Labour Party’s decision marks a shift from expectations that Peter Obi would automatically secure the nomination for 2027.
