The Labour Party has declared its capability to win the 2027 presidential election without forming a coalition, emphasising its strong grassroots support and appeal to Nigerians.
The party reiterated that its performance in the 2023 elections demonstrated its potential to independently challenge and unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress, reports The PUNCH.
The LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, made the assertion yesterday in an interview with our correspondent, denying recent rumours of a coalition agreement with Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“As it stands, Labour Party has not been approached or invited to any meeting whatsoever to discuss a coalition. What we see already is that people are thinking of alternatives and how best elections can be won in a landslide against the ruling APC,” Ifoh said.
“Labour Party didn’t need any coalition in 2023 when it gathered millions of votes from Nigerians who wanted Labour Party to take over the leadership of the nation. We will continue to say that the system played a trick on both Nigerians and Labour Party.
“We know LP has what it takes to win elections at the highest level and we demonstrated that in 2023. If elections were to hold again today, Labour Party would even do it in a bigger way because the government of the day has failed. Everything that Labour Party stands for and canvassed in 2023 is what Nigeria needs at the moment. So we do not even really need a coalition to win the election.”
Ifoh,however, said the LP had not foreclosed the possibility of a merger if the terms were right.
He said, “The idea of a coalition is not bad. If Labour Party is approached, the party will look into it to scrutinise see the merits and its demerits.
“Again, we only see individuals talking. The opposition parties have not called for any meeting or take the initiative for discussion until when the time comes.”
Ifoh’s statement comes in response to speculation fuelled by reports suggesting a possible coalition between LP, PDP, and NNPP ahead of the 2027 elections.
These claims were, however, recently dismissed by Kwankwaso and Obi, both of whom denied any involvement in such discussions.
Kwankwaso, speaking in a BBC Hausa interview last week, stated, “I have not communicated with either Atiku or Obi,” adding that he had maintained a neutral stance through the end of last year.
Similarly, Obi, in a press conference last Friday, distanced himself from the rumours, saying, “I am not a party to any arrangement of this nature.”
However, in response to Kwankwaso, the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, argued that the PDP was not death, stressing that President Bola Tinubu and the APC cannot be defeated in 2027 except through a merger, which must include the PDP
He stated, “The PDP is the only party that has consistently won elections without being in power. Senator Kwankwaso may have left, but how many states did he win with his new party? The facts speak for themselves.
“For over two decades, the PDP has remained steadfast, maintaining its identity and producing governors and lawmakers in every part of the country. Even if four parties merge without the PDP, they cannot win an election. We’ve seen this play out repeatedly. Where are those parties now? Even their alliances with other parties have not delivered the desired results.”
