The Labour Party (LP) has formally zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the southern region of Nigeria, ruling out the emergence of any candidate from the North in its next presidential outing.
The party’s acting National Chairperson, Nenadi Usman, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja, stating that the decision reflects an internal consensus aimed at promoting equity, inclusiveness, and national balance in the country’s political leadership.
“We have one certain decision that we have taken, and that is that we will certainly not field any aspirant from northern Nigeria,” Usman said.
“We have zoned the position to Southern Nigeria. So if any northerner comes now to want to contest elections, we certainly will not accept that.”
The announcement places the Labour Party among political parties adopting zoning arrangements ahead of the 2027 general elections, a long-standing, albeit informal, principle in Nigeria’s political system designed to rotate power between the North and South.
Zoning has remained a sensitive and often contentious issue in Nigeria’s electoral politics, particularly in the aftermath of the 2023 presidential election, which saw major parties adopt varying positions on regional power distribution. Analysts say such arrangements are often deployed to manage the country’s complex ethno-regional dynamics and foster a sense of inclusion among diverse groups.
Within the Labour Party, the decision is expected to shape early permutations ahead of 2027, especially following the party’s significant performance in the last general election, where it emerged as a major third force with growing national appeal.
Party insiders say the move is also aimed at consolidating support in the southern region while maintaining internal cohesion ahead of what is expected to be a highly competitive electoral cycle.
While the party is yet to release detailed guidelines for aspirants, political observers note that the zoning declaration could influence alignments, consultations, and the eventual emergence of key contenders within the party.
The Labour Party has, however, maintained that its broader objective remains the promotion of credible leadership and national unity, even as it navigates the complex terrain of regional balancing ahead of 2027.
