The Labour Party (LP) has firmly stated it will not adopt the approach used by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in conducting its primary elections. This declaration comes in response to claims by the APC that it has held the most exemplary primaries in the country.
During a media briefing held alongside the screening of aspirants vying for various positions in the 2027 general elections, LP National Chairman Nemadi Usman made it clear that the party intends to carve its own path. “We are not copying anybody because we are Labour Party,” Usman asserted, directly countering recent remarks by APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru.
Basiru had boasted that no other political party in Nigeria could match the ruling party’s achievements in conducting primaries. However, this boast comes despite widespread criticisms over issues such as candidate imposition, electoral irregularities, violence, and the sidelining of key stakeholders during the APC’s primaries. The consensus method adopted by the APC has also been met with stiff opposition from aspirants who claim the process lacks transparency and excludes popular candidates.
Usman, however, dismissed any notion of emulating the APC. She revealed that at least three presidential aspirants have already passed the party’s screening ahead of its own primaries. Addressing concerns that the exit of former LP presidential candidate Peter Obi has weakened the party, Usman expressed confidence in the party’s strength. “I don’t think so. From the number of people indicating interest to use the party as a platform, the party is still strong,” she said.
On the issue of former National Chairman Julius Abure distributing nomination forms to aspirants, Usman described the move as illegal. She noted that the party had already reported the matter to the police, the Inspector General of Police, and the Director General of the Department of State Services. “We heard he went to the Supreme Court. My take is that the Supreme Court would maintain its stand. If my tenure is over, they say my tenure is over, I’ll go,” she added.
The LP’s stance underscores its determination to run its internal processes independently, without borrowing from other parties’ methods.