Amid ongoing internal tensions within the Labour Party (LP), the party’s National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, has clarified that the 2027 presidential ticket is “not reserved for anybody,” signaling that the race will be open and competitive.
Speaking during an interview with Trust TV, Ibrahim voiced concern over Peter Obi’s recent engagements with leaders of the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that continued association with another party could jeopardize Obi’s chances of running on the LP platform.
“Datti is qualified to contest for the presidency as well as Peter Obi. So, the seat of that candidacy is not reserved for anybody. It is open for a competitive contest,” Ibrahim said, referring to Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate.
He emphasized that the Labour Party will give Baba-Ahmed a fair opportunity to seek the presidential ticket should he choose to contest.
“If Datti is willing to aspire for presidency and he wants to do that under the Labour Party, we will open it. Come and buy the form, mobilize his support, and then get elected,” he stated.
However, Ibrahim warned that continued association with other political parties could disqualify potential aspirants, indirectly cautioning Obi.
“But the only thing is that if those people didn’t come back to us, they lose that opportunity because there’s no way you’ll continue to romance with another political party and then you still come back and your one leg is in the Labour Party. No, ab initio, you may be disqualified,” he said.
This development follows recent remarks by Baba-Ahmed, who hinted at his interest in contesting the 2027 presidential election if Obi chooses not to run. While reiterating that the presidency is not a desperate pursuit for him, Baba-Ahmed reaffirmed his loyalty to Obi, saying the former Anambra governor deserves another chance to contest on the LP platform.
