The 2027 Labour Party presidential ticket is no longer reserved for Peter Obi, Abure says

Julius Abure, the national chairman of the embattled Labour Party, has announced that the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 elections will no longer be reserved exclusively for former candidate Peter Obi.

Addressing a press conference after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday, Abure stated that the 2027 presidential ticket is now open to all party members.

“The NEC which is currently in session is also reviewing the decision of the National Convention to make the Presidential and Governorship tickets available to Peter Gregory Obi and Alex Otti,” Abure said. “Therefore, all party tickets from the President to the House of Representatives are open to all qualified Nigerians.”

Abure also indicated that there would be no automatic second-term ticket for Abia State Governor Alex Otti, stating that the seat would be made available to other candidates.

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The chairman also criticized the role of the Abia governor in convening the stakeholders’ meeting that led to the formation of the implementing committee led by former Senator Nenadi Usman. Abure claimed that Otti had no authority to convene the meeting.

“The National Executive Committee sitting notes that the Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Alex Otti, who presided over the meeting, has no authority under the Party Constitution as stipulated in Section 14 (4) (B) which gives the authority to call a meeting only to the National Secretary with the approval of the National Chairman,” Abure explained. “The National Executive Committee sitting further reiterates that the Governor of Abia State does not even have the authority to call a meeting of his State Executive without the approval and permission of his State Chairman.”

Abure also criticized the meeting for violating the Elections Act 2022, which requires at least 21 days’ notice to the Commission for any convention, congress, conference or meeting held to nominate candidates.

“No governor we give a ticket to can harass us out of office; no governor, no matter how high up the ladder, will come and by decree, dissolve the NWC, dissolve the state assembly or dissolve the local government councils; not even the military government will do that,” Abure asserted. “The mandate given to me and my team as leaders of the Labour Party at the party convention held on March 27, 2024, will be upheld.”

He criticized recent events, particularly the meeting held in Abia State, which he said was an attempt to create divisions in the party. “This meeting, held without the authority or approval of the National Executive Council, was aimed at installing a so-called ‘new leadership,’” Abure said. “Let me reiterate: this act is not only illegal. It is a betrayal of everything the Labour Party stands for. Rewarding loyalty with ingratitude, rewarding support with insubordination.”

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