As preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections, the Labour Party (LP) has announced that its presidential ticket will be zoned to the southern region of the country.
The party’s National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Nenadi Usman, disclosed the decision while speaking to journalists after a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to her, the party has taken a firm position not to accept presidential aspirants from the northern region, stressing that the ticket is exclusively reserved for candidates from the South.
Usman, however, declined to mention any potential contenders, emphasising that the party would follow due process in selecting its flagbearer.
She noted that naming a candidate at this stage would undermine internal democracy, insisting that the eventual nominee would emerge through transparent primaries.
She reaffirmed the party’s commitment to democratic principles, stating that the choice of candidate would ultimately depend on the will of party members during the selection process.
The LP chieftain also hinted at adjustments to the timetable for the party’s congresses, citing a significant increase in membership.
She warned that maintaining the current schedule could disenfranchise new entrants eager to participate in the process.
Although zoning is not a constitutional requirement in Nigeria, political parties often adopt it as a strategy to promote balance and inclusiveness across regions.
The party’s latest move mirrors developments in the 2023 elections, when both the Labour Party and the All Progressives Congress (APC) fielded southern presidential candidates, 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 and Peter Obi, who contested under the Labour Party.
The zoning decision is expected to shape early political alignments as parties begin strategising ahead of the next electoral cycle.
