The interim National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Nenadi Usman, has indicated that the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, may be unable to run under its platform in the 2027 elections due to statutory membership rules.
Speaking during an appearance on Arise TV on Wednesday, Usman explained that provisions in the Electoral Act require political parties to finalise and submit their membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of primaries effectively shutting out late entrants.
She said, “Well it will be too late actually for him to come back because if you look at the act now, at some point we close the register.
“Once we close the register 21 days before primaries, submit the register, the e-register to INEC, you can’t come from behind the door for us to register you and for you to contest the elections. That would be impossible, legally impossible anyway.”
Despite the warning, Usman acknowledged Obi’s pivotal role in boosting the party’s profile during the 2023 elections, noting that he influenced her own move from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the LP.
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“Even me, he (Obi) convinced me to come with him to Labour Party. Convinced me and not just me, many people that are in Labour Party today were convinced by, let’s join Peter, go to Labour Party because we believed in equity and fair play,” she said.
Explaining her departure from the PDP, Usman said it was driven by dissatisfaction with the party’s refusal to zone its presidential ticket to the southern region.
“We believe that PDP should have zoned the seat to the south. But since they left it open and said there were no zoning and a northerner, they were trying to field a northerner, we felt no, it’s not fair. Though I’m a northerner but I felt it was not fair,” Usman said.
The LP recently approved the timetable for its primary elections ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the National Executive Council (NEC) announcing key dates and disciplinary measures following a statutory meeting on Tuesday, 17th March 2026. The meeting was duly observed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and relevant INEC guidelines.
According to the NEC, the submission of the party’s membership register to INEC is scheduled for 15th April 2026. Governorship, Senate, House of Representatives, and House of Assembly primaries will take place on Friday, 15th May 2026, while the Presidential Primary Election is slated for Saturday, 23rd May 2026.
The NEC also ratified prior decisions by the National Leadership regarding the conduct of Ward, Local Government, and State Congresses, scheduled for 26th, 28th, and 31st March 2026 respectively, as well as the National Convention set for 11th April 2026.
