The Labour Party (LP) has formally distanced itself from its 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, following his recent participation in coalition talks ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a strongly worded statement released on Monday, the party emphasized that it has neither endorsed any aspirant nor offered an automatic ticket to any individual, including Obi.
Obiora Ifoh, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, issued the statement in response to widespread media reports suggesting that the Labour Party was “celebrating” Obi’s purported declaration to contest the 2027 presidential election under its platform.
Ifoh described the reports as misleading and taken out of context.
“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 said.
“I want to state emphatically that I was quoted out of context and therefore, the impression conveyed by the news was erroneous, inaccurate, and does not in any way reflect the position and mood in the party.”
While reaffirming that Obi, or any qualified Nigerian, is welcome to contest under the LP platform, Ifoh made it clear that such aspirations must adhere strictly to the party’s internal democratic processes.
“The Labour Party has a longstanding rule on how its candidates shall emerge, and automatic ticket is not one of the routes,” he said.
The party also referenced its 2024 National Convention, during which automatic tickets were mistakenly conferred on Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti. The LP clarified that those decisions were reversed after consultations with the party’s legal and constitutional organs.
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Of particular concern to the party is Obi’s recent involvement in a coalition meeting held in Abuja on Sunday, reportedly aimed at forming a broad alliance ahead of the 2027 elections. The Labour Party said it was neither informed about nor involved in the event.
“This to us is really confusing, and we think that Peter Obi has not come to terms with his intentions for the 2027 presidential race,” the statement read.
“His association with the pro-coalition group was both distasteful and unacceptable to the party.”
Political analysts believe the Labour Party’s strong stance may signal internal tensions as Nigeria moves toward another election cycle.
Speaking to The Nation, political analyst Dr. Farouk Ismail said the development reflects a wider debate within opposition parties about structure, leadership, and strategic direction.
“Peter Obi is a major political figure who brought credibility to the Labour Party in 2023. But this response suggests the party wants to reassert its autonomy and avoid the perception of being a one-man project,” Dr. Ismail noted.
Another political observer, Prof. Grace Oyeniyi of the University of Ibadan, said the LP’s response underscores the need for clearer internal coordination.
“What we’re seeing is a tussle between personality-driven politics and institutional discipline. The Labour Party wants to avoid being overshadowed by any single figure, no matter how popular,” she said.