The leadership of the Labour Party has dismissed reports suggesting that its 2027 presidential ticket has been zoned to the South-East geopolitical zone.
In a statement released on Monday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, clarified that the Labour Party has not, and will not, zone any of its positions to any geographical zone or individual. This statement comes in response to speculation fueled by the party’s earlier announcement regarding its commitment to providing a platform for Ndigbo to pursue the presidency.
On Sunday, the Labour Party had issued a statement titled “2027: Labour Party still available for Ndigbo to realise presidency – Abure”, which led to reports suggesting that the party had earmarked its presidential ticket for the South-East in the upcoming 2027 elections.
The 2023 presidential candidate for the party, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, had been the focal point of these reports, with some speculating that the zoning of the presidential ticket to the South-East would effectively give Obi an automatic nomination.
However, the Labour Party clarified that it did not make any official declaration regarding zoning the presidency or any other positions for the upcoming elections. The party emphasized that while it provided a platform for the South-East to pursue its political aspirations in 2023, it will not exclude the region from future opportunities.
The party further explained that Labour Party National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, had only advised during a gathering of South-East members in the Federal Capital Territory that unity within the region and broader outreach to other groups could help Ndigbo achieve the presidency. Abure reiterated that the Labour Party remains a national party with substantial support across the country and that the issue of zoning does not apply.
The statement concluded by affirming that the Labour Party, which won seats in both the Northern and Southern regions during the 2023 general elections, is focused on building upon its achievements and surpassing them in future elections.
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