The Labour Party (LP) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Southeast region in its bid for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027. The party’s National Chairman, Comrade Julius Abure, made this known during a rally organized by Southeast LP members residing in Abuja. The event was held ahead of the upcoming Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Abure, while addressing party supporters, noted that the Labour Party had no regrets about zoning its 2023 presidential ticket to the Southeast. He urged political leaders from the region to work towards strengthening alliances with other parts of the country in order to achieve their goal of producing Nigeria’s next president.
In a statement released on Sunday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, Abure reassured party members that the Labour Party remains dedicated to conducting free and fair primaries for all elections. He assured them that there would be no imposition of candidates, stating that only party members would have the final say on who represents them in elections.
Speaking about the 2023 elections, Abure recalled his previous misconceptions about the unity of the Igbo people. He said: “Before the 2023 general election, I erroneously believed that Igbos were not united. However, after Peter Obi joined the party and I campaigned across the country, I discovered that the Igbos are the most united, most industrious, and most fearless people. That is why I have no regrets that, despite all odds, we zoned our 2023 presidential ticket to the Southeast. We decided to wipe the tears of the Igbos, and we courageously did that during the 2023 election.”
Abure also noted the importance of unity among the Igbos and advised them to take lessons from the Yoruba political experience before and after Nigeria’s independence. He explained that forming strategic alliances had helped the Yoruba people secure the presidency, and urged the Igbos to adopt a similar approach.
He advised: “The Igbos must return to the drawing board and seek realignment with other sections of the country. History shows that the Yorubas could not attain the presidency until they formed strategic alliances. This is a lesson the Igbos should learn. The Igbos need to be strong, firm, and united behind a common leadership. While not everyone will be on the same page, a unity of purpose is critical to realizing the dreams of the Igbos.”
Reaffirming the party’s commitment to supporting the Southeast in the future, Abure stated, “I assure you that the Labour Party is still ready and available to support Ndigbo in their ambition to lead this country.”
On the upcoming FCT elections, Abure expressed confidence in the Labour Party’s chances, predicting a strong contest between LP and other parties. He assured party supporters that the leadership would remain committed to upholding internal democracy and allowing members to decide their candidates.
“The reason why Nigeria and other political parties are in trouble is because leaders often subvert the wishes and aspirations of the people. As National Chairman, I will discourage such practices in our party. For the upcoming elections, only party members will decide who represents us,” he said.
