The Labour Party has debunked claims that it plans to give automatic tickets to its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, for the 2027 election. This denial comes after the factional National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, announced that the party would field Obi to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
According to Arabambi, Tinubu would face a tough challenge in the next general election, stating, “Tinubu is not just going to have it very easy in 2027, we are coming back with Peter Obi so that they will know we are very serious.”
However, the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, has dismissed this claim, emphasizing that the party’s presidential ticket will be awarded in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Law (as amended). Ifoh stated, “We have said it clearly before, and we are saying it again, that anyone who wants to fly our flags must meet our requirements and that of electoral law and the constitution.”
This development comes after LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, revoked an earlier promise to give Obi and Otti automatic tickets in July 2024. The decision was reportedly made due to Obi and Otti’s involvement in setting up a national caretaker committee, which the Abure-led NWC deemed a null and illegal arrangement.
