LP zones 2027 presidential ticket to South as court throws out leadership suit

The Labour Party (LP) has formally zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria, ruling out aspirants from the North, as it also secured a legal victory with the dismissal of a challenge against its current leadership.

Chairman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Esther Nenadi-Usman, disclosed the development in Abuja following a consultative meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

She explained that the decision represents a clear policy direction ahead of the next general election, aimed at guiding potential aspirants and ensuring internal clarity within the party.

“We have one certain decision that we have taken. That is to say we will certainly not field any aspirant from Northern Nigeria. We have zoned the position to Southern Nigeria.

‘’So if any northerner comes now to want to contest elections, we certainly will not accept that.”

Despite the zoning decision, Nenadi-Usman stressed that the party would uphold democratic principles in selecting its eventual candidate, noting that the process would remain open and competitive.

“As for who, I can’t tell you now because then it won’t be democratic anymore. When the aspirants come, whoever the people like and vote for during the primaries, then whoever it is that wins the primaries, then we put them in the position,” she said.

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The announcement comes shortly after a High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, dismissed a suit challenging the legitimacy of the National Caretaker Committee.

Reacting to the ruling, the LP chairman expressed satisfaction with the outcome, describing it as a vindication of the leadership.

“To God be the glory, the case was thrown out. The court discovered that they had no locus standi. I believe the judge did very well by standing on truth and the case is now thrown out, so it is over,” she stated.

On the party’s internal calendar, Nenadi-Usman hinted that the timeline for upcoming congresses may be reviewed in light of increasing membership interest.

She warned that proceeding with the initially scheduled dates could exclude many new entrants eager to participate in the party’s processes.

“If we go ahead to stick to that date, to my mind, we are going to disenfranchise quite a number of people. I think we should tinker with that date, sit together as a group and come up with a new date,” Nenadi-Usman said.

She also addressed a recent security incident involving party assets, confirming that the matter had been formally reported to law enforcement authorities.

The chairman expressed confidence that those responsible would be brought to justice, noting that the move would help deter future acts of political violence.

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