The Labour Party (LP) has zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, effectively ruling out aspirants from Northern Nigeria from contesting for the position on its platform.
The Chairman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Senator Nenadi Usman, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja after a consultative meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Usman said the decision was part of the party’s strategy to provide clarity for prospective aspirants ahead of the next general elections.
She stated, “We have one certain decision that we have taken. That is to say that we will certainly not field any aspirant from Northern Nigeria. We have zoned the position to Southern Nigeria.
“So if any Northerner comes now wanting to contest elections, we certainly will not accept that.”
Despite the zoning arrangement, Usman emphasised that the party would still follow democratic processes in selecting its candidate.
“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.
Usman also confirmed that a High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, dismissed a lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of the party’s National Caretaker Committee.
“To God be the glory, the case was thrown out. The court found that they lacked standi. I believe the judge did very well by standing on truth, and the case is now thrown out, so it is over,” she said.
The LP chairman hinted that the party may adjust the timetable for its upcoming congresses, initially scheduled to begin on Thursday, March 26.
According to her, the adjustment may be necessary to accommodate the growing number of new members joining the party.
“If we go ahead and 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,” she said.
Usman also disclosed that the party had filed a formal petition with the Nigerian Police following a recent security breach involving party property.
She expressed confidence that the authorities would investigate the matter and hold those responsible accountable.
She added that the move was necessary to deter future acts of political violence.
