Factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has instructed all aspirants seeking the party’s tickets for the 2027 general elections to obtain nomination forms free of charge through the party’s online platforms and social media pages.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, Abure assured that despite ongoing legal disputes over the party’s leadership, his faction would fully participate in the 2027 elections and field candidates nationwide.
He said aspirants can download, complete, and submit the forms to their respective state party chairmen without payment.
Abure also announced the timetable for the party’s primaries, stating that governorship and state assembly primaries will hold on May 27, 2026, while National Assembly primaries for the Senate and House of Representatives will take place on May 29, 2026. He added that all primaries will be conducted through direct voting at local government headquarters, while the presidential candidate will emerge through a consensus process in Abuja on the same date.
He explained that the decision to make nomination forms free is part of what the party calls its “Free Form Initiative,” aimed at reducing financial barriers and allowing capable but less financially strong individuals to contest elections.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the Labour Party’s ideology and has been implemented in previous election cycles, which he claimed allowed unconventional candidates, including ordinary workers, to win legislative seats.
Abure also criticized a rival faction led by Nenadi Usman, accusing it of imposing high fees for nomination forms and acting contrary to the party’s principles.
He insisted that all actions taken by the opposing faction were illegal and would eventually be invalidated, urging members to remain loyal and participate in the ongoing processes under his leadership.
The Labour Party leader further disclosed that he has approached the Supreme Court to challenge earlier court rulings that removed him as national chairman, maintaining that his leadership remains legitimate following the party’s national convention held in March 2024 in Nnewi, Anambra State.
Abure also addressed a recent meeting with Abia State Governor Alex Otti, stating that discussions were purely reconciliatory but ended without agreement after the governor reportedly insisted on different conditions.
He denied allegations of financial demands or inducements during the meeting, dismissing such claims as false and urging party members to ignore what he described as misinformation circulating about the leadership dispute.