The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) says it will soon announce its preferred presidential candidate and political platform to support ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The faction’s deputy national chairman, Ayo Olorunfemi, said in an interview with journalists on Monday that the party has begun discussions with major political parties to determine its political alignment.

Mr Olorunfemi said the decision followed the party’s protracted leadership crisis and the alleged exclusion of candidates produced through its primaries from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) list.

He said the faction would soon address the media to communicate its decision to members nationwide on the presidential candidate and political platform to support in the 2027 elections.

“We have started discussions with the major political parties. In the coming weeks, we are going to address press conferences and tell our members nationwide where to go and vote for among the presidential candidates,” he said.

The deputy national chairman said the faction would also consider candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives and other elective positions across party lines.

He said such decisions would be based on consultations with the party’s state chairs and other relevant stakeholders within its structures.

Mr Olorunfemi maintained that the Abure-led faction retained control of the party’s structures in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), despite the protracted legal disputes over its leadership.

“The structure of the party belongs to us. It is still in our hands. All 36 states of the Federation and the FCT are in our hands as we speak,” he said.

He attributed the crisis to what he described as attempts by some party leaders to undermine the leadership that emerged from the party’s convention.

The politician alleged that the opposing faction had falsely claimed that Mr Abure’s tenure had expired, despite the convention being held with the knowledge and participation of party stakeholders.

He said the Supreme Court had previously ruled that courts should not interfere in the internal leadership affairs of political parties, which, according to him, were governed by their respective constitutions.

Mr Olorunfemi, however, expressed dissatisfaction with subsequent court decisions, alleging that the courts had failed to properly examine the convention and other issues surrounding the leadership dispute.

He said the faction was awaiting the Supreme Court’s final decision, expressing confidence that justice would be served.

Mr Olorunfemi said candidates produced through the faction’s primaries were not uploaded by INEC, thereby creating uncertainty over their participation in the 2027 elections.

“The candidates that we did primaries for, who went through the proper process, their names were not submitted to INEC,” he said.

He said the development had made it difficult for the affected candidates to contest the 2027 general elections under the party’s platform.

The deputy national chairman said the faction had advised its candidates not to lose hope, but to begin preparations for the 2031 general elections while the leadership pursued its legal battle.

Mr Olorunfemi dismissed the opposing faction’s strength, claiming it had failed to produce a substantial number of candidates across states and legislative constituencies.

The official maintained that the Abure-led faction remained the party’s authentic leadership and expressed optimism that the pending Supreme Court judgment would resolve the leadership crisis. 

Last month, Edo State LP youth leader Ken Omusi said youth leaders of the Abure-led faction had indicated their intention to support the ruling All Progressives Congress in re-electing President Bola Tinubu.

(NAN)