The Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, while reaffirming his commitment to the Labour Party (LP).
Baba-Ahmed made the declaration on Wednesday during a rally and press briefing at the Labour Party’s national secretariat in Abuja, signalling continuity within the party amid ongoing political realignments.
His announcement comes barely a week after the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, defected from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), sparking speculations about possible further defections.
Addressing party members and journalists, Baba-Ahmed made it clear that he would not follow Obi to the ADC, insisting that his presidential ambition was independent and long-standing.
“I have made myself to contest for the office in 2027. I’m not following anybody’s trajectory or stepping into anybody’s shoes,” he said.
He recalled that his interest in the presidency predates the 2023 election cycle, noting that he had aspired to the office before Obi declared his intention to run.
“Before His Excellency Governor Peter Obi filed for the presidency, I aspired for the presidency. The records are there for you to see,” Baba-Ahmed stated.
The former senator disclosed that he previously sought the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), having participated in the party’s primaries in Port Harcourt in October 2018, before later supporting Obi on the Labour Party platform.
“I saw a rare opportunity for national unity to have elected Peter Obi in 2023, and that was why I decided to flow with it,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed also addressed questions around religion and ethnicity, stressing that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees his right to contest.
“Yes, I am a practising Muslim. Yes, I am a Hausa man. The Nigerian constitution allows me to contest. I’m doing this because Nigeria needs help,” he said.
However, he noted that while he had made his intention known, he would comply fully with party procedures and the electoral timetable.
“As a law-abiding citizen and loyal party member, until INEC releases its timetable and the Labour Party calls for interested aspirants, I will not say anything further,” he added.
Reacting to the declaration, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, commended Baba-Ahmed for remaining in the party despite speculation following Obi’s exit.
Abure said Baba-Ahmed’s decision, alongside that of Abia State Governor Alex Otti, demonstrated that the party remained united and intact.
“On the night Peter Obi defected, I received a call from our vice-presidential candidate, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed, who told me clearly that he was not leaving the party,” Abure said.
He added that Baba-Ahmed had suggested convening a meeting of party leaders and members to reaffirm unity within the party, a proposal that led to the gathering at the party’s secretariat.
“The Labour Party is intact. We will not let Nigerians down. We will remain together and provide a genuine alternative for Nigerians,” Abure said. Baba-Ahmed’s declaration has added a new layer to early manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 presidential election, as political parties and opposition figures begin positioning amid shifting alliances.
