Labour Party disowns ‘celebration’ of Obi’s 2027 ambition, declares presidential ticket open

The Labour Party has disavowed media reports suggesting it is celebrating Peter Obi’s declaration to run for president in 2027 under the party’s platform, describing the claim as “erroneous, inaccurate and does not in any way reflect the position and mood in the party.”

In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party made clear that Obi has not been granted an automatic ticket for the 2027 presidential election.

“The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to the news trending in the media that the party is ‘celebrating’ that its candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, has declared his intention to run on the platform of the party in 2027,” Ifoh stated. “I want to state emphatically that I was quoted out of context.”

He continued, “While we are not opposed to anybody running under the platform of the Labour Party in the 2027 general election, we need to make it categorically clear that the party has a long-standing rule on how its candidates shall emerge, and automatic ticket is not one of the routes.”

Ifoh recalled that at the party’s 2024 National Convention, “the party had erroneously granted automatic tickets to our former presidential candidate and the only governor of the party. However, that decision has since been rescinded and reversed after consulting the statute books.”

The statement also took issue with Obi’s recent political engagements, particularly his attendance at a meeting of a pro-coalition group in Abuja. According to Ifoh, “His Excellency, Peter Obi, hours after he spoke of his intention to run under the Labour Party, was on Sunday (yesterday) seen in a meeting of a pro-coalition group in Abuja without the permission and consent of the Labour Party leadership. This to us is really confusing.”

“We have consistently said that Labour Party will not go into any coalition or merger of any sort ahead of the 2027 general election,” Ifoh said. “Therefore Obi’s continued association with the coalition is not only distasteful but unacceptable to the party.”

Calling the development “an affront to the party leadership,” Ifoh said Obi’s actions reflect “a total disregard to the party’s right to make decisions binding its affairs.”

He concluded by reiterating the Labour Party’s stance that the presidential ticket for 2027 is open to all aspirants. “We are therefore by this statement letting Nigerians know that the presidency for 2027 is open to anyone who wants to run under the platform of the party,” the statement read.