LP rules out northern aspirants as Nenadi Usman outlines 2027 strategy
The Labour Party (LP) has zoned its presidential ticket to southern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general election, as political activities begin to gather pace.
The party’s National Caretaker Committee chair, Nenadi Usman, disclosed the decision on Tuesday in Abuja, on the sidelines of a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“We have one certain decision that we have taken, and that is that we will certainly not field any aspirant from northern Nigeria. We have zoned the position to southern Nigeria,” Usman said.
“So if any northerner comes now to want to contest elections, we certainly will not accept that.”
She stressed that the party would still adhere to internal democratic processes and declined to name any preferred candidate.
“As for who, I can’t tell you now because then it won’t be democratic anymore. Whoever the people like and vote for during the primaries could be the candidate,” she said.
Usman also referenced a recent legal victory for the party, noting that the case was dismissed for lacking merit, adding that the presiding judge “stood on truth”.
On preparations for upcoming party activities, she hinted that the date for the LP’s congresses could be reviewed following a surge in membership.
“If we go ahead to stick to that date, to my mind, we are going to disenfranchise quite a number of people,” she said.
Although zoning is not recognised in Nigeria’s constitution, it remains a common practice among political parties, often justified on grounds of equity and balance.
The move mirrors developments ahead of the 2023 general election, when both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the LP fielded southern candidates, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) left its ticket open.
Former vice-president Atiku Abubakar emerged as the PDP candidate, while former Anambra governor Peter Obi secured the LP ticket. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former Lagos governor, flew the APC flag and was later declared winner of the poll, with Atiku finishing second and Obi third.