Observers say the assertion that Peter Obi cannot return unless…
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The iNews Times | The declaration that Peter Obi cannot return to contest the 2027 presidency on the Labour Party platform has triggered fresh political debate after the party’s interim national chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, cited strict provisions of the Electoral Act as the decisive barrier.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Usman made it clear that once the Labour Party closes its membership register ahead of its primaries and submits it to the Independent National Electoral Commission, no late entrant can be accommodated.
“Well it will be too late actually for him to come back because if you look at the act now, at some point we close the register,” she said.
“Once we close the register 21 days before primaries, submit the register, the e-register to INEC, you can’t come from behind the door for us to register you and for you to contest the elections. That would be impossible, legally impossible anyway.”
Her remarks effectively reinforce the position that Peter Obi cannot return to seek the 2027 presidential ticket under the Labour Party if statutory deadlines are not met.
Under Nigeria’s Electoral Act, political parties are required to submit their membership registers before conducting primaries. Once filed with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alterations become legally constrained. Electoral lawyers note that failure to comply strictly with these timelines has previously led to candidate disqualification in pre-election litigation.
The statement comes amid continuing internal restructuring within the Labour Party following its strong but turbulent 2023 electoral outing.
Usman acknowledged that Obi played a pivotal role in the party’s national rise during the last general election. She revealed that she was among several political figures persuaded by the former Anambra State governor to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Labour Party ahead of 2023.
“Even me, he convinced me to come with him to Labour Party. Convinced me and not just me, many people that are in Labour Party today were convinced by, let’s join Peter, go to Labour Party because we believed in equity and fair play,” Usman stated.
She explained that her decision to leave the PDP was rooted in dissatisfaction with the party’s zoning decision at the time, arguing that the presidential ticket should have been ceded to the South.
Despite that history of alignment, the current legal framework means that Peter Obi cannot return under the Labour Party banner unless he is duly registered within the official window prescribed by law.
The issue unfolds against the backdrop of a prolonged leadership crisis that fractured the party after the 2023 elections. Rival claims to the national chairmanship sparked legal battles between Usman’s caretaker committee and supporters of former chairman Julius Abure.
In April 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that Abure’s tenure had expired. A Federal High Court subsequently ordered INEC to recognise Usman’s caretaker leadership pending a national convention. The Court of Appeal later upheld that decision, directing INEC to deal exclusively with Usman’s faction. However, Abure has indicated his intention to approach the Supreme Court again, leaving residual uncertainty.
The leadership dispute weakened party cohesion, triggered defections, and reduced its legislative presence. Analysts argue that the internal instability has complicated long-term planning ahead of 2027.
Usman’s faction has since commenced membership revalidation and announced that the party’s 2027 presidential ticket would be zoned to the South. While that zoning arrangement theoretically aligns with Obi’s regional background, it does not override statutory registration timelines.
Political observers say the assertion that Peter Obi cannot return unless he meets membership requirements underscores a broader lesson in Nigerian politics: legal technicalities can determine candidacy as decisively as popular support.
Pre-election cases in Nigeria have historically removed aspirants from ballots over procedural breaches, ranging from improper nomination forms to membership disputes. Electoral compliance, therefore, remains critical long before campaign season formally begins.
At The iNews Times, our analysis indicates that early clarity on membership status, internal party unity, and compliance with INEC regulations will be decisive factors shaping the 2027 presidential race.
For now, Usman’s message is unambiguous. Once the register is closed and transmitted to INEC, the law offers no shortcut.
Whether reconciliation, political negotiation, or legal interpretation changes the equation remains to be seen. But under the current framework described by the party’s interim chairman, the position stands firm that Peter Obi cannot return to contest the 2027 presidency on the Labour Party platform if the statutory deadline passes unmet.
As the political climate gradually shifts toward 2027, the consequences of party rules, court rulings, and regulatory timelines may prove just as powerful as campaign momentum.
The coming months will determine whether procedural compliance preserves or permanently alters Obi’s pathway within the Labour Party and by extension, reshapes the opposition landscape heading into the next general election.
