2027: Datti Baba-Ahmed Declares Presidential Ambition, Insists He’s Not Filling Obi’s Vacuum As Labour Party Battles Post-Defection Turmoil

Abuja,  Nigeria– 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 presidency in 2027, injecting fresh momentum into the early race for Nigeria’s top political office amid deepening realignments within the country’s opposition space.

Baba-Ahmed made the declaration on Wednesday at a rally held at the Labour Party’s national secretariat in Abuja, where party leaders, members and supporters gathered against the backdrop of growing uncertainty following the exit of the party’s former presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi.

However, the announcement came barely one week after Obi announced his defection from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Addressing speculation that his decision was a reaction to Obi’s departure, Baba-Ahmed firmly rejected the narrative, insisting that his presidential ambition was longstanding and not tied to the political choices of any individual.

He told the crowd that his aspiration to lead Nigeria predates the 2023 election and should not be interpreted as an attempt to step into a vacuum created by Obi’s exit.

“I have made myself to contest for the office in 2027. I’m not following anybody’s trajectory or stepping into anybody’s shoes,” Baba-Ahmed declared.

“Can I please remind you that before His Excellency Governor Peter Obi filed for the presidency, I aspired for the presidency before him? The records are there for you to see.”

The former lawmaker recalled his earlier political journey, including his attempt to secure a presidential ticket long before his alliance with Obi under the Labour Party platform in 2023.

He recounted participating in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries in 2018, underscoring that his ambition to contest Nigeria’s highest office had been consistent over the years.

“In October 2018, I participated in the primaries of the then PDP in Port Harcourt and walked to Obi for his vote, and he smiled at me. What a gentleman he was,” Baba-Ahmed said.

He explained that his decision to accept the vice-presidential slot in 2023 was driven by what he described as a rare opportunity for national unity.

“If you heard me well in what I just submitted, I saw a rare opportunity for national unity to have elected Peter Obi in 2023. And that is why I decided to flow with it,” he added.

Baba-Ahmed also addressed sensitive issues around religion and ethnicity, which have increasingly dominated Nigeria’s political discourse, particularly following the controversy surrounding Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangements in past elections.

Emphasising constitutional rights, he argued that no Nigerian should be disqualified from seeking elective office on the basis of religion or ethnic background.

“Yes, I am a practising Muslim. But I’m a Nigerian, and the constitution allows me to contest,” he said.

“You asked about my ethnicity. Yes, I am a Hausa man, and the Nigerian constitution also allows me to contest. I’m doing this because Nigeria needs help.”

However, the Labour Party chieftain was careful to stress that his declaration should not be misconstrued as a violation of party or electoral processes.

He said he would refrain from making further pronouncements until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) releases the official timetable and the Labour Party formally calls for expressions of interest from aspirants.

“As a law-abiding citizen and a loyal party member, until the timetable is released by INEC and the leadership of the Labour Party calls for interested aspirants, I will not say anything about it,” Baba-Ahmed stated.

“But remember I told you that Nigerians know the truth.”

Reacting to the development, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, praised Baba-Ahmed for remaining in the party despite widespread speculation that he might defect in the wake of Obi’s departure.

Abure said Baba-Ahmed’s decision demonstrated that the Labour Party remained intact and resilient, contrary to claims that Obi’s exit had crippled the party.

According to him, several key figures within the party have also chosen to stay, including Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.

“Only recently, the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, told the world that he joined the party before Peter Obi did – this is true,” Abure said.

“Otti also said he was not going to defect to Peter Obi.”

The Labour Party chairman further revealed that Baba-Ahmed personally reached out to him on the night Obi announced his defection, reassuring him of his commitment to the party.

“On the night Peter Obi defected, I received a telephone call from our Vice-Presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed. He said he is not leaving the party because it was the platform upon which he, along with the former candidate, received 10 million votes from Nigerians, which was reduced to 6 million votes. We all know what happened,” Abure said, in a veiled reference to the disputed outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

Abure also disclosed that Baba-Ahmed proposed the idea of convening a meeting of party leaders and members as a show of unity and reassurance to supporters nationwide.

“In fact, he asked me to organise an event where members can come together. He first suggested that we meet at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel with a few senior members that he would foot the bill,” Abure revealed.

“But I suggested that we hold the event here at the party Secretariat and invite our members, artisans and ordinary people who truly own the party, and he agreed. That is why we are having this gathering here today.”

Reaffirming the party’s resolve, Abure said the Labour Party would remain united and committed to offering Nigerians a credible alternative to the ruling establishment.

“The Labour Party is intact, we will not let Nigerians down. We will remain together and provide a genuine alternative for Nigerians,” he said.