The Labour Party (LP) has dismissed claims that its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, have been granted automatic tickets for the 2027 presidential election.
This clarification follows recent statements by the factional National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, who suggested that the party would field Obi again to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Arabambi asserted that Tinubu would face stiff opposition, stating, “Tinubu is not just going to have it easy in 2027. We are coming back with Peter Obi to show we are serious.”
However, in an official response, LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, refuted the claim, stating that no automatic ticket has been promised to anyone.
“No, that news is not from us. The party’s presidential ticket will be determined in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Law (as amended). Any aspirant must meet the required standards to contest under our platform. The party has not entered into any agreement for automatic tickets,” Ifoh stated.
Internal Crisis Over Party Leadership
The controversy traces back to July 2024, when LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, revoked a previous commitment to grant Obi and Otti automatic tickets. The move followed Obi and Otti’s role in setting up a 29-member national caretaker committee, led by Senator Nenadi Usman, to oversee internal party elections.
The Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) rejected the caretaker committee as illegal, accusing Otti of interfering in party affairs instead of focusing on governance. Shortly after the committee’s formation, the party formally withdrew the automatic ticket initially granted to both Obi and Otti.
Dismissing speculations that the revocation was politically motivated, Abure insisted the decision was to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for all candidates in the 2027 elections.
