By CHARLES CHIJIOKE
The Labour Party has officially unveiled Hajja Bintu Konto as its vice presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election, pairing her with the party’s presidential candidate, Dr. Chibuzo Okereke, in what the opposition described as a ticket built on competence, integrity, inclusiveness and national unity.
Afrilensnews reports that the announcement was contained in a press statement issued on Saturday by the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Ken Eluma Asogwa, who said the decision followed extensive consultations with key stakeholders across the party.
According to Eluma Asogwa, the choice of Hajja Konto reflects the party’s determination to present Nigerians with leaders possessing proven capacity for public service and a commitment to rebuilding the country.
“This decision followed extensive consultations across critical stakeholders of our Party and reflects our unwavering commitment to presenting Nigerians with a ticket that embodies competence, integrity, inclusiveness, patriotism and proven capacity for public service,” the statement said.
The party described Hajja Konto as a distinguished public health expert, humanitarian leader and development practitioner with more than three decades of experience in healthcare delivery, community development, humanitarian intervention and stakeholder engagement.
It noted that her extensive work, particularly in conflict-affected communities across Northern Nigeria, has earned her a reputation as a bridge-builder, consensus mobiliser and compassionate leader.
According to the statement, Hajja Konto retired from Catholic Relief Services after serving in several strategic leadership positions, including Community and Government Liaison Program Officer, where she coordinated engagements with governments, traditional institutions, civil society organisations and local communities on health, nutrition, WASH and humanitarian programmes.
The party added that she also held leadership responsibilities across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, coordinating humanitarian responses, community mobilisation and multisectoral interventions that positively impacted thousands of vulnerable Nigerians, including internally displaced persons.
A trained nurse, midwife, health educator and public health specialist, Hajja Konto holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health and previously served as a lecturer in Community Health, contributing to the training of health professionals.
She currently serves as a member of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) of the Global Fund in Nigeria and is the National Treasurer of the Civil Society for Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN), among other professional affiliations.
The Labour Party said her experience in governance engagement, humanitarian coordination, conflict-sensitive programming, women’s empowerment, community mobilisation and public policy implementation, coupled with her fluency in English, Hausa, Kanuri, Shuwa, Fulani and Bura, makes her a valuable asset to the party’s vision for Nigeria.
The statement further said her emergence reinforces the party’s commitment to gender inclusion, national unity and competent leadership drawn from every part of the country.
“The nomination of Hajja Bintu Konto further underscores the Labour Party’s enduring commitment to gender inclusion, national unity and the promotion of competent leadership drawn from every part of our country.”
The party maintained that, together with Dr. Chibuzo Okereke, Hajja Konto represents “a new generation of purposeful, people-centred leadership committed to restoring hope, strengthening national institutions, reviving the economy, improving security and delivering responsible governance.”
The Labour Party called on Nigerians to support its presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election, expressing confidence that the pair would provide the leadership needed to address the country’s economic, security and governance challenges.
The unveiling is expected to shape early political conversations ahead of the 2027 elections, with political observers likely to assess the electoral implications of the party’s decision to field a female vice presidential candidate from Northern Nigeria in its bid to broaden its national appeal.
