The Labour Party (LP) has denied claims that it has zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South-East.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party clarified that remarks attributed to its National Chairman, Julius Abure, were taken out of context. “Labour Party is a national party with a broad base of support across the country, and as such, the issue of zoning does not arise,” the statement said.
Ifoh explained that Abure had merely advised South-East members at a gathering on Saturday that the region could still achieve the presidency by building stronger alliances with other political groups. He emphasized that the Igbos should seek to expand their networks and collaborate with other regions, drawing parallels to the success of the Yoruba political bloc through strategic alliances.
The statement also highlighted that in the 2023 general elections, the party secured seats in both the north and southern states and was committed to surpassing that achievement in future elections. It further stated that candidates for all positions would emerge through a competitive, democratic process, as the party’s constitution does not endorse zoning.
“We regret the misinterpretation of the party’s intentions by a section of the media. The Labour Party’s position was quoted out of context,” the statement concluded.
In the 2023 elections, the LP fielded former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as its presidential candidate. Obi, however, lost to Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), finishing closely behind former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
