A fresh twist has emerged in the internal dynamics of the Labour Party, as uncertainty surrounds the eligibility of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for the 2027 race.
Interim national chairman, Nenadi Usman, disclosed this during an televised interview, explaining that the party’s membership register would be closed 21 days before its primaries and submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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.
Usman acknowledged Obi’s significant role in the party’s performance during the 2023 elections, noting that he persuaded many, including herself, to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the Labour Party in pursuit of equity and fairness.
She explained that her defection was driven by dissatisfaction with the PDP’s decision not to zone its presidential ticket to the South, describing the move as unfair despite her northern background.
The Labour Party has been grappling with a prolonged leadership crisis since the 2023 elections, with rival factions led by Usman and former chairman Julius Abure laying claim to the party’s leadership.
A series of court rulings, including decisions by the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, have recognised Usman’s caretaker committee as the legitimate leadership pending a national convention, while Abure continues to challenge the outcome.
The internal crisis has weakened the party’s structure, leading to defections and a diminished presence in the National Assembly. Obi later cited the lingering instability as part of the reason for distancing himself from the party, which has since begun membership revalidation and zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
