Nenadi Usman Backs The Zoning Of LP Presidential Ticket To South

The Labour Party faction loyal to Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, on Sunday declared that the party is inclined towards zoning its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, in line with the principle of power rotation between the North and South.

The Interim National Chairman of the faction, Senator Nenadi Usman, made the declaration during a late-night interview on TVC monitoredby our correspondent.

Speaking on the party’s zoning arrangement ahead of the 2027 general election, Usman said equity and national balance demanded that the presidency should remain in the South.

“Well, it’s the turn of the South. Yes, I believe in a power shift between North and South. So, if the Labour Party wants to fill a candidate now, it will be a Southerner.

“Anyway, this is my personal view. When we sit together as stakeholders, we will decide whether to field a candidate or not. If we are going to the field, where will the candidate come from and all those decisions?

“But from my moral perspective, it is the turn of the South, and a Southerner should be allowed to contest an election at this material time,” she said.

On the party’s likely presidential flag bearer, the former Finance Minister said no decision had been taken, stressing that such matters would be resolved collectively by key stakeholders.

“When we get to that bridge, we’ll cross it. Whether we are fielding a candidate and how we are going to field him is not something that I personally can sit down and make a decision on.

“There is Dr Alex Otti. We also have the NLC and the TUC. These are the stakeholders. So, we have to sit together with them and decide what we should do,” Usman stated.

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She also dismissed speculations that Governor Otti might defect from the Labour Party following the exit of the party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

“I’m sure he will still be with us, because I spoke to him, actually, when Peter Obi was leaving. I asked him, what about you? And He said, no. He’s still with us,” she said.

Reacting to Obi’s defection to the African Democratic Congress, Usman admitted she was initially displeased but said she respected his decision after hearing his reasons.

“I was unhappy about the decision. But having spoken to him and heard the reason he left, I had to respect his judgment. I just wished him well and said we are praying for him. That’s all,” she added.

The LP factional chair further disclosed plans to reunite aggrieved members of the party through a reconciliation process aimed at rebuilding the party ahead of future elections.

As I said, we want to call everyone together. Let’s bury the hatchets, let’s come together. If truly you are a lover of the Labour Party, this is the time for you to come and join us. Let’s join hands to rebuild our party.

“We are on the verge of inaugurating a committee that will be in charge of reconciliation.

“So that committee, I believe, will go round and talk to everybody that needs to be spoken to and plead with them to come. Let’s join hands and rebuild our party,” Usman said.