LP Shuts Out North, Zones 2027 Presidential Ticket to South

The Labour Party has formally zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, effectively excluding aspirants from Northern Nigeria as preparations for the next general election gather pace.

The party’s National Caretaker Committee chairperson, Nenadi Usman, announced the decision on Tuesday in Abuja following a consultative meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“We have one certain decision that we have taken, and that is that we will certainly not field any aspirant from Northern Nigeria. We have zoned the position to southern Nigeria,” Usman said.

“So if any northerner comes now to want to contest elections, we certainly will not accept that.”
Despite the zoning arrangement, she stressed that the party would still allow a democratic process to determine its eventual candidate.

“As for who, I can’t tell you now because then it won’t be democratic anymore. Whoever the people like and vote for during the primaries… could be the candidate,” she added.

Usman also reiterated that the party would not lobby individuals to run on its platform, noting that such an approach is inconsistent with its principles.

The development comes amid internal party disputes, with Usman confirming that a court case challenging the legitimacy of the caretaker committee had been dismissed for lacking merit.

“To God be the glory, the case was thrown out because it lacked merit,” she said, adding that the judge “stood on truth”.

She further hinted that the party may review the timetable for its upcoming congresses due to a surge in membership, warning that sticking to the current schedule could disenfranchise new entrants.

The zoning decision mirrors political balancing practices often adopted by parties ahead of national elections, as Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 polls.