“Labour Party Denies Zoning 2027 Presidential Ticket to South-East”
The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has firmly rejected circulating reports suggesting that it has zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South-East. In a statement released on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the LP clarified that it has neither zoned nor plans to zone any of its positions to any particular geographic zone or individual.
The controversy stemmed from a statement issued by the party on Sunday titled, “2027: Labour Party still available for Ndigbo to realise presidency – Abure.” This sparked speculation that the party had reserved its presidential ticket for the South-East, possibly paving the way for former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to receive an automatic nomination for the 2027 elections.
Obi, who flew the LP’s presidential flag in the 2023 general election, has continued to be a prominent figure within the party. Following this, rumors began circulating that the party might be preparing to zone its ticket to the South-East, specifically to Obi, in the next election cycle.
In response to the speculation, the Labour Party issued a strong denial, stating that it had never said it was officially zoning the presidency or any other position for the upcoming elections. The statement went on to emphasize that while the party had offered its platform to the South-East in 2023 to pursue political ambitions, it was not ruling out future collaboration with the zone.
The LP’s National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, had remarked on Saturday during a gathering of South-East members in Abuja that Ndigbo could still realize the presidency if they work together and reach out to other regions. He stressed that the Labour Party remains a strong national platform for all political aspirations.
“The Labour Party is a national party with a broad base of support across the country, and therefore the matter of zoning does not apply,” the statement added. The party emphasized that it has already secured representation in both the Northern and Southern states, with plans to improve on that success in future elections.
