Obi Can’t Contest 2027 on Labour Party Platform — Chairman

By Aluko Adeyemi 

Labour Party says Peter Obi may miss 2027 ticket as membership deadline rules tighten amid ongoing leadership crisis.

The interim National Chairman of the Labour Party Nigeria, Senator Nenadi Usman, has declared that the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, may be unable to contest the 2027 election on its platform due to legal and procedural constraints.

Speaking during an interview , Usman explained that the Electoral Act mandates political parties to close their membership register at least 21 days before primaries and submit it to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

According to her, once the register is submitted, no new member can be added, making it “legally impossible” for any late entrant to contest under the party’s platform.

“Well, it will be too late actually for him to come back… once we close the register and submit to INEC, you cannot come in from behind,” she said.

Usman, however, acknowledged Obi’s critical role in the party’s rise during the 2023 elections, revealing that he personally convinced her and many others to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Labour Party.

She explained that her decision to leave the PDP was driven by what she described as the party’s failure to zone its presidential ticket to the South, a move she said went against principles of equity and fairness.

The development comes amid a prolonged leadership crisis within the Labour Party, which intensified after its strong showing in the 2023 elections. The dispute centred on rival claims to the party’s national chairmanship between Usman’s caretaker committee and the faction led by former chairman Julius Abure.

The crisis has since triggered a series of legal battles. In April 2025, the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled that Abure’s tenure had expired, while a Federal High Court in Abuja subsequently recognised Usman’s leadership and directed INEC to deal exclusively with her faction pending a national convention.

The Court of Appeal Nigeria also upheld the decision, dismissing Abure’s challenge. However, Abure has indicated plans to approach the Supreme Court, leaving the dispute unresolved.

The internal crisis has taken a toll on the party, leading to defections, a weakened presence in the National Assembly, and declining grassroots strength.

Obi himself had earlier cited the party’s instability as a major factor behind his exit. Meanwhile, Usman’s faction has commenced membership revalidation and has zoned the party’s 2027 presidential ticket to the South.

Political observers say the unfolding situation could significantly shape the Labour Party’s prospects ahead of the next general elections, especially regarding its ability to retain key figures and maintain its 2023 momentum.