By Ayo Ayodele
As preparations intensify for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, the Labour Party (LP) has officially zoned its presidential ticket to the southern region of the country.
The party’s National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Nenadi Usman, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Usman said the party had taken a firm decision not to field any presidential aspirant from Northern Nigeria. According to her, only candidates from the South will be considered for the 2027 presidential race.
She emphasized that the Labour Party would still uphold internal democratic processes in selecting its candidate, noting that the eventual flagbearer would emerge through a transparent primary election.
Usman declined to mention any potential contenders, stressing that naming individuals ahead of the primaries would undermine the party’s democratic principles.
The LP chairman also hinted at a possible adjustment to the timetable for the party’s congresses, citing a surge in membership that could leave many new entrants disenfranchised if the current schedule is maintained.
Although zoning is not enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution, it remains a common practice among political parties seeking to promote equity and balance in leadership.
The development mirrors the 2023 general election, during which both the Labour Party and the All Progressives Congress (APC) zoned their presidential tickets to the South, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) left its ticket open.
In that election, Bola Tinubu of the APC emerged victorious, defeating Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, while Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate, came third.