Labour Party Ratifies Chibuzo Okereke as 2027 Presidential Candidate

The Labour Party formally approved Dr. Chibuzo Okereke as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections during a national executive committee meeting held in Abuja on Thursday. The party also ratified over 1,200 candidates for various state and federal positions. Party officials said the ratification followed a primary election conducted on May 30, 2026, across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

In his acceptance speech, Okereke presented what he termed a 'Nigerians First' governance framework, positioning his candidacy around citizen welfare and rebuilding confidence in public institutions. Party materials indicate his platform centres on tackling Nigeria's socio-economic challenges through people-focused leadership rather than political gain. The candidate framed his vision as one capable of resetting the country's political, economic, and social direction.

Abia State Governor Alex Otti, who was among the ratified candidates, used the occasion to call for unity within the party following the primary contests. Otti warned that internal divisions could weaken the Labour Party's electoral prospects and urged members to move beyond primary competition to strengthen the party's chances. He cautioned that opponents would seek to exploit any remaining fractures within the party structure.

Sources indicate some variation in the exact number of ratified candidates, with reports citing either 1,209 or 1,211 candidates approved for various positions. The party's national secretary, Alhaji Iheanacho Obioma, noted that the primary elections were conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act and independent monitoring by the Independent National Electoral Commission.