The Labour Party (LP) has stated categorically that there will be no automatic ticket for any intending presidential candidate, including its 2023 flagbearer Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

This clarification came on Monday through the party's National Publicity Secretary, Obiorah Ifoh, in response to recent remarks by Peter Obi indicating his intention to potentially run again on the Labour Party platform.

Speaking at an event in Abuja, Obi had stated that he would consider running under the LP platform "for now," sparking speculation about his political future.

In his statement, Ifoh denied reports that the party was celebrating Obi's declaration, describing such news as "erroneous" and "inaccurate."

"I want to state emphatically that I was quoted out of context and therefore, the impression conveyed by the news was erroneous, inaccurate and does not in any way reflect the position and mood in the party," Ifoh clarified.

While the party is not opposed to Obi or any other aspirant running under its platform in 2027, Ifoh emphasized that the Labour Party has established procedures for candidate selection that do not include automatic tickets.

"First, while we are not opposed to anybody running under the platform of the Labour Party in the 2027 general election, we need to make it categorically clear that the party has a long standing rule on how its candidates shall emerge and automatic ticket is not one of the routes," he stated.

Ifoh further revealed that a previous decision to grant automatic tickets to the party's former presidential candidate and its only governor had been rescinded after consulting the party's statute books.

"Recall that at the party's National Convention in 2024, the party had erroneously granted automatic tickets to our former Presidential candidate and the only governor of the party, however, that decision has since been rescinded and reversed after consulting the statute books," the statement added.

This development comes as political parties begin early preparations for the 2027 general elections, with various potential candidates making their intentions known.

Peter Obi, who gained significant popularity during the 2023 presidential election, has reportedly indicated that 2027 might be his last presidential run, adding another dimension to the unfolding political landscape.