The Interim National Chairperson of the Labour Party, Nenadi Usman, has said it will be too late for the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to return to the party, citing provisions of the Electoral Act governing party membership registration ahead of primaries.
Usman made this known on Wednesday during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’, where she explained that the party’s register would be closed 21 days before primaries in line with electoral guidelines.
According to her, once the register is closed and submitted as an electronic register, no further entries would be allowed.
“It will be too late for Peter Obi to come back to Labour Party because if you look at the Electoral Act, at some points, we will close the register. You cannot come when that is done,” she said.
Usman acknowledged Obi’s influence in raising the profile of the party during the 2023 general elections, describing his impact as significant and unmatched.
“Obi actually took the party to greater heights in 2023. There’s nobody who can match that momentum like he did,” she said.
She added that Obi played a key role in attracting members to the party, including herself.
“He convinced me to join him in the Labour Party. And not just me but also many people that are in Labour Party today because we believe in equity and fair play,” she added.
