The Labour Party (LP) has refuted claims that it plans to grant automatic tickets to its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, for the 2027 general elections.
The clarification comes in response to comments made by the factional National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, who recently stated on Channels Television’s Politics Today that Obi would be the party’s candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“Tinubu is not just going to have it very easy in 2027. We are coming back with Peter Obi so that they will know we are very serious,” Arabambi said.
However, LP’s official National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, dismissed the claim, asserting that the party’s ticket would be determined through due process.
“No, that news is not from us. The report concerning our presidential ticket will be done in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Law (as amended). Anyone who wants to fly our flag must meet our requirements and that of the electoral law and constitution. The party has not entered into any agreement to give automatic tickets to anybody,” Ifoh stated.
This stance follows a prior controversy in July 2024 when LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, revoked an earlier promise of automatic tickets for Obi and Otti. The decision came after Obi and Otti supported the formation of a 29-man caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman, tasked with conducting elections for new party executives at all levels.
Abure’s leadership rejected the committee’s legitimacy, calling it “null and illegal.” The party also warned Otti to focus on governance rather than interfering in party affairs.
Despite speculation that the revocation was a form of political retaliation, Abure maintained that the decision was made to ensure equal opportunity for all aspirants in the 2027 elections.
