A faction of Nigeria’s Labour Party (LP) led by Julius Abure on Saturday unveiled Kennedy Ahanotu as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, amid a prolonged leadership dispute that has split the opposition party.
Ahanotu, the party’s national youth leader, emerged as the consensus candidate during presidential primaries organised by the Abure-led faction in Abuja. The 42-year-old was adopted alongside candidates for governorship and House of Representatives elections.
The announcement comes as rival camps within the Labour Party continue to contest control of the party structure, with a separate faction backed by prominent figures including Abia State Governor Alex Otti challenging Abure’s authority.
In his acceptance speech, Ahanotu pledged to work toward unifying the party and strengthening its structures ahead of the next general election.“With a full sense of responsibility and unwavering commitment to our nation, I proudly accept the nomination of our great party,” Ahanotu said.
The Labour Party has been embroiled in months of internal disputes over its leadership and preparations for the 2027 elections, with both factions laying claim to the party’s national structure and electoral processes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has yet to comment on the validity of the primary conducted by the Abure-led faction.