Abuja: The Labour Party (LP) has announced that its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election will be selected from the southern region of Nigeria. This decision was disclosed by the party’s interim National Chairman, Sen. Nenadi Usman, during an interaction with journalists in Abuja following a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and leaders of political parties. The meeting focused on reviewing the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the 2027 general election.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Usman stated that although the presidential ticket is open to credible aspirants, the party has decided to zone it to Southern Nigeria. She emphasized that the party is committed to maintaining internal democracy, allowing the people to vote for their preferred candidate during the primaries. Usman also refrained from speculating on who the candidate might be, highlighting the democratic process involved.
Addressing questions regarding the upcoming party congresses scheduled to commence on Thursday, Usman indicated that the dates might be adjusted due to the recent increase in party membership. She suggested that sticking to the original dates could potentially disenfranchise new members, and a collective decision would be made regarding any changes.
Usman also praised a recent court ruling in Yenegua, which dismissed a legal challenge to the party’s leadership, demonstrating the court’s recognition of the lack of merit in the case. Additionally, she disclosed that a formal petition had been filed with the Nigeria Police Force following a recent attack and vandalization of a party office, expressing confidence that those responsible would be held accountable.
On the topic of party membership registration, Usman encouraged the use of the party’s digital registration platform, reserving manual registration for areas without internet access. She further commended INEC for its detailed briefing on the new Electoral Act 2026, which is crucial for ensuring compliance with new regulations and timely submission of candidate names.