The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) on Saturday unanimously elected its National Chairman, Dan Nwanyanwu, as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election at a Special Presidential Convention held in Abuja.
The convention, attended by delegates from across the country and observed by National Electoral Commission INEC officials, marked a key milestone in the party’s preparations for the next general election.
In his acceptance speech, Nwanyanwu expressed appreciation to party members for the confidence reposed in him, pledging to justify the mandate and lead what he described as a new direction for Nigeria.
“This is my last speech as an aspirant. Thank you for believing in me and for the confidence you have in my ability. I will make good use of this mandate,” he said.
He said his administration would prioritise national unity, warned that Nigeria’s diversity had been poorly managed over the years, resulting in deepened ethnic and religious divisions. According to him, rebuilding trust among citizens and ensuring inclusive governance would be central to restoring stability and national cohesion.
On security, the ZLP presidential candidate described the situation in the country as deeply troubling, pledging decisive action against insurgency, banditry and other violent crimes. He promised to strengthen the capacity of security agencies and ensure swift prosecution of offenders and their collaborators, while also advocating reforms that would introduce federal, state and community policing structures to improve effectiveness.
Nwanyanwu also vowed a zero-tolerance approach to corruption, promising to strengthen anti-corruption institutions through reforms that would make them more proactive. He further proposed a comprehensive audit of public assets and financial records to recover stolen funds and reduce leakages in government expenditure.
He lamented the state of Nigeria’s power sector, describing it as a major obstacle to development despite the country’s vast energy potential. He pledged to pursue reforms aimed at expanding electricity generation, improving transmission infrastructure, encouraging private sector participation, and exploring alternative energy sources to support industrial growth.
The ZLP candidate also promised policies to improve the ease of doing business, expand access to credit for entrepreneurs, and create an enabling environment for small and medium-scale enterprises. He said his administration would prioritise job creation and youth empowerment by supporting innovation, skills development and private sector growth.
Nwanyanwu further advocated greater devolution of powers to states and local governments, arguing that decentralisation would improve governance efficiency and accelerate development at the grassroots.
He assured party members that the details of the ZLP manifesto covering key sectors including education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure and the economy would be made public in the coming days.
The convention ended with delegates reaffirming support for the party’s direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
