2027 Shockwave: Labour Party Unveils Public Health Expert Hajja Konto as VP Candidate

The Labour Party (LP) has officially announced Hajja Bintu Konto, a distinguished public health expert and humanitarian practitioner, as its vice-presidential candidate for the eagerly anticipated 2027 general election. She will run alongside the party’s presidential flag bearer, Dr. Chibuzo Okereke, forming a ticket that the party describes as firmly anchored on competence, inclusiveness, integrity, patriotism, and a deep commitment to national unity and proven capacity for public service.

The significant announcement was made in a statement issued on Saturday by Ken Eluma Asogwa, the party’s National Publicity Secretary. According to the Labour Party, this decision was the culmination of extensive consultations with key stakeholders across various regions of the country, reflecting a deliberate strategy to present Nigerians with a leadership team possessing broad and invaluable experience in governance, humanitarian service, and community development.

Hajja Bintu Konto brings an impressive three decades of dedicated service in healthcare delivery and humanitarian interventions, with a particular focus on conflict-affected communities in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states. Her professional background is extensive, encompassing roles as a seasoned public health specialist, registered nurse, midwife, health educator, and development practitioner. Before her retirement from Catholic Relief Services (CRS), she held several strategic positions, notably as a Community and Government Liaison Programme Officer. In this capacity, she was instrumental in coordinating engagements with various governmental bodies, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, and development partners on crucial health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and broader humanitarian programmes.

Her work at CRS also involved spearheading critical community mobilisation and multisectoral interventions that demonstrably improved the lives of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable populations within Nigeria's North-East region. Academically, Konto is highly qualified, holding a Master’s degree in Public Health and having previously served as a lecturer in Community Health. Her current professional affiliations further underscore her expertise and commitment; she is a respected member of Nigeria’s Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) of the Global Fund and currently serves as the National Treasurer of the Civil Society for Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN).

The Labour Party highlights Konto’s comprehensive experience in humanitarian coordination, public health administration, women’s empowerment, and conflict-sensitive programming as key assets. Furthermore, her impressive linguistic versatility, with fluency in English, Hausa, Kanuri, Shuwa, Fulani, and Bura, positions her as an ideal candidate well-suited for national leadership. The party asserts that this nomination reinforces its unwavering commitment to gender inclusion and national cohesion, while simultaneously introducing what it terms "a new generation of purposeful, people-centred leadership."

With the unveiling of the Okereke-Konto ticket, the Labour Party expresses profound confidence that their candidacy will offer Nigerians a compelling alternative. Their platform is anticipated to focus on critical national issues, including robust economic recovery, enhanced security measures, comprehensive institutional reforms, and transparent, accountable governance, as the nation looks ahead to the 2027 presidential election. The Labour Party now joins a growing roster of political parties that have finalized their presidential tickets, signaling a significant acceleration in preparations for the upcoming 2027 general election.