The Abure-led faction of the Labour Party on Saturday adopted its National Youth Leader, Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The decision was taken during the faction’s primaries held in Abuja, where candidates for various elective positions were also chosen. Ahanotu, 42, was presented as the consensus choice of the party amid the ongoing leadership dispute that has continued to divide the Labour Party into rival camps.
His emergence comes at a time when the party remains locked in a prolonged struggle over leadership. One camp is led by Julius Abure and his National Working Committee, while another group is backed by prominent figures within the party, including Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
Following his nomination, Ahanotu promised to work toward restoring unity within the party and building stronger structures ahead of future elections. He said his focus would be on reconciliation, internal democracy and bringing together members who may have differences.
The new presidential candidate also expressed readiness to engage Governor Otti and other stakeholders in efforts to resolve the crisis. According to him, the Labour Party belongs to members across the country and should not be seen as the project of any individual or state.
Ahanotu first publicly declared his presidential ambition in July 2025, when he argued that Nigeria needed younger leaders and a departure from the political order that has dominated governance for decades.
At the primary election venue, the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, was represented by Deputy National Chairman Ayo Olorunfemi, who formally announced the outcome. Party officials explained that several aspirants had initially shown interest in the presidential ticket before the leadership settled on Ahanotu through a consensus process.
Apart from the presidential primary, the faction also adopted governorship candidates for several states, including Benue, Nasarawa, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Abia, Delta, Cross River, Rivers, Bauchi, Kwara and Kaduna.
Party leaders described the development as the beginning of a new phase for the faction as it prepares for the 2027 elections.
However, the announcement was quickly dismissed by the rival Labour Party camp led by Senator Nenadi Usman. The group said it did not recognise the exercise or the candidates produced by the Abure-led faction. Its spokesman, Ken Asogwa, described the development as irrelevant to the leadership he represents and insisted that the party had moved beyond the activities of the rival group.
The latest development is expected to deepen the contest for legitimacy within the Labour Party. With both factions pursuing separate political activities and laying claim to the party structure, efforts to resolve the leadership crisis may remain a major challenge ahead of the 2027 general election.