The Labour Party (LP) has expressed confidence in its ability to win the 2027 presidential election without forming a coalition with other political parties. The party said its grassroots support and growing appeal to Nigerians would propel it to victory.
Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, made this declaration on Sunday during an interview with The PUNCH. He dismissed rumors suggesting that the party was considering a merger with Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) or former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“As it stands, the 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 stated.
Ifoh emphasized the party’s strong performance in the 2023 elections, which he believes demonstrated its ability to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) independently.
“Labour Party didn’t need any coalition in 2023 when it gathered millions of votes from Nigerians who wanted the Labour Party to take over the leadership of the nation,” he said.
“We know LP has what it takes to win elections at the highest level and we demonstrated that in 2023. If elections were held again today, the Labour Party would even perform better because the government of the day has failed,” Ifoh added, stressing that the LP’s campaign promises align with Nigeria’s current needs.
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However, Ifoh did not entirely rule out the possibility of a coalition.
“The idea of a coalition is not bad. If the Labour Party is approached, the party will look into it to scrutinize the merits and demerits. But for now, the opposition parties have not initiated any discussions on the matter,” he said.
The statement from the Labour Party comes amid growing speculation about potential alliances between opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections. Reports had suggested a possible coalition involving the LP, PDP, and NNPP, but these claims were swiftly denied by key figures.
Rabiu Kwankwaso, leader of the NNPP, dismissed the rumors during a BBC Hausa interview last week.
“I have not communicated with either Atiku or Obi,” he said, maintaining that he had stayed neutral since the end of last year.
Similarly, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, distanced himself from the speculation during a press conference last Friday.
“I am not a party to any arrangement of this nature,” Obi clarified.
Despite these denials, some opposition figures have argued that a coalition is necessary to defeat the APC in 2027. Umar Damagum, the acting National Chairman of the PDP, emphasized the importance of unity among opposition parties.
“President Bola Tinubu and the APC cannot be defeated in 2027 except through a merger, which must include the PDP,” Damagum said.
He highlighted the PDP’s resilience, noting that it has consistently won elections even while out of power.
“The PDP is the only party that has maintained its identity and consistently produced governors and lawmakers across the country for over two decades. Even if four parties merge without the PDP, they cannot win an election,” Damagum asserted.