2027: It’s Too Late For Peter Obi To Return To Labour Party — Nenadi Usman

The interim national chairperson of the Labour Party (LP), Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, has said that it was too late for the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to return to its fold ahead of the 2027 general election.

Usman made the remark on Wednesday night during an appearance on ARISE News Channel Prime Time show.

She explained that the party would strictly adhere to provisions of the Electoral Act, particularly regarding the timeline for party registration and candidate eligibility for contest before the primaries.

According to her, once the party closes its membership register 21 days before its primaries and submits its electronic register as required by law, it would be impossible for any individual to join through what she described as the “back door.”

“It will be too late for Peter Obi to come back to the Labour Party because, according to the Electoral Act, once we close the register and submit the e-register, no one can join after that,” she said.

Despite her position, Mrs Usman acknowledged Obi’s significant impact on the party during the 2023 election cycle, noting that his candidacy elevated the party’s national profile.

“Obi actually took the party to greater heights in 2023. There’s nobody who can match that momentum like he did,” she stated.

She further revealed that Obi played a key role in attracting members, including herself, to the party.

“He convinced me to join him in the Labour Party. And not just me but also many people that are in Labour Party today because we believe in equity and fair play,” Usman added.

LEADERSHIP reports that the LP national chairman spoke against the possibility of Peter Obi’s returning to his former political party in the event he fails to secure the presidential ticket of his current party, African Democratic Congress (ADC).