Labour Party confirms Okereke as candidate, unveils 'renewed hope' campaign slogan

The Labour Party confirmed Dr Chibuzo Okereke as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections on Thursday, as he unveiled an ambitious "Believe Again" vision centered on a "Nigerians First" philosophy.

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This confirmation took place during a hybrid meeting of the party's National Executive Committee at the LP national headquarters in Utako, Abuja, where Okereke's candidacy was ratified.

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Upon accepting the nomination, Okereke pledged to provide leadership that would restore citizens' trust in government and rebuild national institutions, emphasizing that his conviction is rooted in the idea that Nigeria's prosperity is inextricably linked to the prosperity of its citizens.

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Okereke expressed his gratitude to the party leadership, members, and stakeholders for the mandate, stating "I thank the party leadership, members and stakeholders for this mandate, our conviction is straightforward: when Nigerians prosper, Nigeria prospers,"

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He described the Labour Party as the political home of various groups, including workers, professionals, artisans, farmers, women, youths, persons with disabilities, and ordinary citizens, dubbing it Nigeria's "party of first choice" and a champion of democratic socialism and social justice.

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Okereke paid tribute to LP National Leader Dr Alex Otti, citing his people-focused governance in Abia as a model that should be replicated nationwide, and also acknowledged the contributions of National Chairman Senator Nenadi Usman and other key stakeholders.

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The LP candidate acknowledged the National Working Committee, Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and LP supporters across Nigeria and the diaspora, recognizing their vital role in the party's mission.

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Okereke introduced the "Believe Again" mantra as a response to Nigeria's crisis of confidence, where citizens have lost faith in institutions, meritocracy, and the possibility of a better future, arguing that the country's greatest asset is its people, not natural resources.

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A five-pillar recovery blueprint was outlined by Okereke, comprising national security and unity, economic stabilisation, food security and productive growth, education and healthcare, institutional reforms and good governance, and national unity and social cohesion.

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On the issue of security, Okereke pledged to implement a whole-of-society strategy and modernize the military and other security agencies to ensure the country's safety and stability.

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Economically, he promised to remove barriers to investment, such as power shortages, infrastructure gaps, policy flip-flops, and regulatory bottlenecks, and proposed decentralizing the national grid and collaborating with states to unlock regional economic potential.

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For education and healthcare, Okereke vowed to invest in foundational learning, technical skills, digital literacy, research, and expanded healthcare access to make Nigeria globally competitive and improve the quality of life for its citizens.

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He also proposed far-reaching institutional reforms, including zero-based budgeting, stronger anti-corruption accountability, digitization of public services, and merit-based recruitment, to ensure transparency and efficiency in governance.

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Key federal agencies would be reviewed under Okereke's plan, while basic education and primary healthcare would be transferred to local governments, and NYSC participation would become optional for most graduates, except those in selected disciplines.

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To address divisions, Okereke canvassed a National Day of Peace and Forgiveness to promote healing and strengthen interethnic and interreligious harmony, urging Nigerians to come together and work towards a more united future.

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Speaking directly to various groups, including security personnel, farmers, pensioners, women, youths, academics, and entrepreneurs, Okereke repeatedly urged Nigerians to "Believe Again" in the country's future and in transformative leadership.

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Okereke assured that a Labour Party government would prioritize governance above politics, service above power, and national development above partisan interests, promising a new era of leadership that would put the needs of the nation first.