Nenadi Usman, the interim chairperson of the Labour Party, has stated that it is now “legally impossible” for Peter Obi to return and contest under the party in the 2027 presidential election.
Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, ran for president on the Labour Party platform in 2023, where he finished third behind Atiku Abubakar and the eventual winner, Bola Tinubu. However, Obi left the party in December 2025 to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he is seeking the party’s presidential ticket.
Amid ongoing leadership disputes within the ADC and its derecognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), there has been speculation about Obi possibly returning to the Labour Party.
Speaking on television, Usman explained that party rules prevent late entry into the primary process. According to her, the party closes its register 21 days before primaries and submits the list of eligible participants to INEC. Once this process is completed, no new aspirants can be added, making Obi’s return to contest under the party impossible.
Despite this, Usman acknowledged Obi’s major role in boosting the Labour Party’s popularity during the 2023 election. She noted that many members, including herself, joined the party because of his message of equity and fairness.
Addressing internal party issues, Usman also reacted to a recent court ruling that dismissed an appeal filed by factional chairman Julius Abure over the party’s leadership crisis. The court upheld an earlier decision recognizing her as the party’s national chairperson and affirmed that INEC acted within its powers.
Usman accused opposing factions of trying to destabilize the party through multiple court cases, describing such actions as an abuse of the legal process.
Looking ahead, she said the Labour Party will soon begin its congresses, leading to a national convention in Umuahia. All factions, including Abure’s group, have been invited in an effort to promote unity.
She emphasized that the party is bigger than any individual and warned against attempts to dominate its leadership. According to her, leadership should be rotational, while the party itself remains strong and united.
Usman expressed optimism that the upcoming convention would resolve internal conflicts and strengthen the Labour Party ahead of future elections.
