The Labour Party in Akwa Ibom State has elected Emmanuel Friday Ben as its governorship candidate for the 2027 general election.
Ben emerged after the party’s governorship primary held in Uyo, the state capital, on Saturday, May 31, 2026.
Announcing the result shortly after the exercise, the Chairman of the Primary Election Committee, Daniel Umobong, said Ben was the only aspirant who purchased the party’s nomination and expression of interest forms for the governorship race.
He added that 10 aspirants for the House of Assembly and five aspirants for the House of Representatives also purchased forms to contest on the platform of the party.
Umobong said all the aspirants were screened in line with the guidelines of the Labour Party before they were cleared to contest for the various elective positions.
According to him, the candidates met the requirements of the party and were therefore declared eligible to fly the party’s flag in the 2027 elections.
He said the primary was conducted peacefully and in accordance with the party’s rules.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that the Akwa Ibom State Labour Party Chairman, Comrade Lincoln Charles, congratulated all the candidates who emerged from the primaries.
Charles particularly congratulated Ben, saying he had the capacity to lead the state and occupy the Government House, popularly known as the Hilltop Mansion.
He expressed confidence that the party’s gubernatorial candidate would offer credible leadership if elected in 2027.
Charles also dismissed claims that the Labour Party in Akwa Ibom State was divided into factions.
He insisted that he remained the only recognised chairman of the party in the state, adding that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission observed the primary election.
“The governorship candidate of this party is Emmanuel Friday Ben who has just emerged from the just-concluded primaries. So, anyone who’s not here is not known by INEC or Labour Party in Akwa Ibom State,” he stated.
The chairman said the presence of INEC officials at the exercise further confirmed the legitimacy of the process.
In his acceptance speech, Ben thanked the leadership and members of the Labour Party for the confidence reposed in him.
Speaking on behalf of other candidates who emerged from the primary, he promised to justify the party’s trust in him.
He also called for unity among members, saying the party would need collective effort to make a strong showing in the 2027 general election.