Lagos LP disputes INEC’s 2027 governorship candidate, insisting Lanre Adeleke won the party’s May 30 primary
The Lagos State chapter of the Labour Party has challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission’s listing of a different governorship candidate for the 2027 election, insisting that Comrade Lanre Adeleke emerged from the party’s primary held on May 30, 2026.
Also read: Lagos APC Challenges Rhodes-Vivour, Gbadamosi Ticket
The dispute was disclosed in a statement signed by Lagos Labour Party official Comrade Ola Agboola ahead of a special press conference convened by the party to address what it described as the controversy surrounding its governorship primary.
According to the Lagos LP, the May 30 primary was conducted in accordance with the Electoral Act, the Labour Party Constitution and guidelines issued by INEC.
The party said delegates from all 20 local government areas of Lagos State participated in the exercise, during which Adeleke was unanimously affirmed as the governorship candidate.
It added that INEC officials, party agents, security personnel and members of the media were present at the primary.
The Lagos LP 2027 governorship candidate dispute arose after INEC subsequently published a list containing a name different from Adeleke’s.
“It was therefore with deep surprise and concern that we observed the list published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) bearing a different name from the candidate who was validly elected by our members,” the party said.
The party said it had activated its internal mechanisms to challenge the development and protect what it described as the mandate given to Adeleke by its members.
The Lagos Labour Party disclosed that petitions had been submitted to its National Working Committee and that discussions had been held with relevant stakeholders in an attempt to resolve the disagreement.
The party also said Adeleke had commenced legal proceedings over the matter, seeking redress through the courts.
“This Special Press Conference is convened to set the records straight,” the statement said.
The party urged its members, Lagos residents and Nigerians to take note of its account of the primary and subsequent developments.
It further called for the protection of internal democracy, arguing that the outcome of a party primary should not be undermined by administrative errors or political interference.
“We must collectively protect our democracy, defend the sanctity of the ballot, even within parties, and ensure that the voice of the people is not subverted by administrative errors or political manipulations,” the party said.
The Labour Party maintained that it would pursue the matter through peaceful and lawful channels.
“We remain committed to a peaceful, lawful, and democratic resolution,” it added.
Also read: Tonte Ibraye, Former ADC Rivers Candidate, Quits Party, Questions 2027 Tickets
The disagreement now places the Lagos Labour Party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election at the centre of a political and legal dispute, with the party maintaining that Adeleke is the legitimate product of its May 30 primary while seeking clarification over the name published by INEC.
