The Chairman of the Labour Party, Nenadi Usman, has said it would be too late for the party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to return and contest under its platform ahead of the 2027 election.
Speaking during an interview on Prime Time on Arise Television on Wednesday, Usman cited electoral guidelines and party procedures as limiting factors.
“Well, it will be too late, actually for him to come back, because if you look at the Act now, at some point we close the register, and once we close the register 21 days before primaries, submit the e-register to INEC. You can’t come from behind the door for us to register you and for you to contest,” she said.
Usman acknowledged Obi’s significant role in boosting the party’s profile during the last general election, admitting that no current member commands similar political momentum.
“Even me, he convinced me to come with him to the Labour Party and not just me, many people that are in Labour Party today were convinced by Peter because we believed in equity and fairness,” she said.
She explained that her decision to join the party was influenced by her dissatisfaction with the zoning arrangement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the time.
“We believed that PDP should have zoned the seat to the south, but since they left it open and said they were not zoning and they were trying to field a Northerner. We felt no, it’s not fair, though I’m a Northerner, but I felt it was not fair. That’s why I just left and quite a number of other people joined the Labour Party,” she added.
On the party’s future direction, Usman said the Labour Party would refocus on its founding ideals of social justice and equal opportunity, pointing to Governor Alex Otti of Abia State as a model.
“What I want Nigerians to expect henceforth is a new Labour Party that is going to be strictly based on the ideologies the party was built initially to represent… equal opportunity, social justice,” she said.
And if you look at what the Abia Governor is doing, he’s strictly following those… Yes, Governor Alex Otti. He is what I would say is the ambassador of the Labour Party. He’s the only governor we have and he’s doing very well.”
She also urged Nigerians, including activists and unionists, to participate actively in the political process.
“If you think you’re an activist, you have something to offer Nigeria, come contest elections… because you cannot change from outside,” she said. (Vanguard)
