The Labour Party has ruled out issuing automatic tickets to any aspirant ahead of the 2027 general elections — insisting that even its most prominent figure, former presidential candidate Peter Obi, must contest through open and competitive primaries if he chooses to return.
This was revealed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, amid growing uncertainty over Obi’s political future and the widening rift between him and the Julius Abure-led leadership of the party.
Ifoh reiterated that while the party remains open to reconciliation with Obi and other aggrieved stakeholders, its internal democratic process will not be compromised.
According to him,“Every candidate must emerge through a democratically convened convention. There is no automatic ticket for anyone — whether presidential, governorship or chairmanship aspirants.”
He also confirmed that Obi has had little to no direct engagement with the current leadership for about a year, noting that only Obi can clarify his political affiliation going forward.
Ifoh told The PUNCH:
“Whether he is in the ADC or the Labour Party is a question only he can answer. In the last one year, he has not really spoken with the current leadership — and he’s not the only one.”
He further explained that the recent NEC meeting did not address the Obi matter because it was focused entirely on kick-starting congresses and primaries across the country.
He noted that the party had already conducted successful congresses and primaries in several states, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been fully involved in monitoring the process.“We are moving already, and by 2027, we hope to have achieved everything we set out to do.”
