The Labour Party has taken a firm stance that its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, may not be eligible to contest the 2027 general election under its platform, citing strict compliance with electoral regulations governing party membership and primaries.

The party’s interim national chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, explained that internal processes now require the closure of membership registers well ahead of primaries, making late entries legally impossible.

According to her, the party will shut its register 21 days before its primary election and submit the final electronic register to the Independent National Electoral Commission, in line with electoral guidelines.

Usman stressed that once this process is completed, no individual including high-profile former members can be added to the system for electoral participation under the party.

She also reflected on Obi’s earlier influence in shaping the party’s 2023 rise, noting that many members, including herself, were mobilised into the Labour Party through his leadership and advocacy for equity in political representation.

The development comes amid ongoing internal restructuring within the Labour Party, which has been battling leadership disputes and legal battles that have reshaped its structure ahead of the 2027 election cycle.