At the Labour Party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held Monday at the party’s National Secretariat in Utako, Abuja, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, the party’s Vice Presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, officially declared his interest in the 2027 general election.
The meeting, which convened members of the National Working Committee, state chairmen, national officers, and other stakeholders, adopted several resolutions addressing internal party disputes and laying out the party’s direction ahead of the 2027 polls.
Significantly, the NEC denounced a separate meeting held on July 18 at Transcorp as illegal, condemning the conveners and disassociating itself from the so-called outcomes of that meeting. The NEC emphasized that renaming the previously set up Caretaker Committee as the Interim National Working Committee “does not remove its illegality.” The Council pointed out that such meetings contravene party rules and provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
On the party’s leadership status, the NEC stressed: “There is no vacuum in the leadership of the Party,” noting that the Labour Party’s National Convention was conducted in full compliance with legal requirements and validated by a Supreme Court judgment on April 4, 2025. The party urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to respect this judgment.
Further, the NEC reaffirmed confidence in the current leadership under Barrister Julius Abure, urging all members to respect and obey lawful directives. The party also approved upcoming congresses at the state, local government, and ward levels “in line with the party’s Constitution and other Extant laws.”
Regarding alliances, the NEC declared that Labour Party “will not be part of any coalition for the 2027 general election,” highlighting that the 2023 coalition effort was its largest to date. The statement read, “Labour Party is distinct in terms of its ideology, programs, philosophy, and manifestos,” and therefore “cannot be tempted by joining any politically spent forces that have hitherto squandered the resources and opportunity of the Nation.”
Finally, the NEC commended Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed for “identifying with the leadership and declaring his interest for the 2027 general election,” signalling the party’s readiness for the upcoming electoral contest.
The meeting was chaired by National Chairman Barrister Julius Abure and National Secretary Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim.