2027: Datti Baba-Ahmed denies declaring Presidential ambition

The vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has dismissed reports suggesting that he has declared interest in contesting Nigeria’s presidency in 2027.

Speaking on Friday during an interview on The Morning Brief on Channels Television, Baba-Ahmed clarified that his recent remarks were misinterpreted, stressing that he merely reaffirmed his membership of the Labour Party.

“I never declared to contest the presidency, even though there could be a possibility of that happening. I certainly did not declare for the presidency. I simply reiterated my membership of the Labour Party,” he said.

According to him, any discussion about presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 election is premature, noting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not released its timetable and the party has not opened its process for expressions of interest.

“One will have to wait for the INEC timetable and for the party to make the call for people to indicate their interest,” he added.

Baba-Ahmed blamed what he described as social media sensationalism for spreading inaccurate narratives, accusing some commentators of misleading emotionally driven audiences.

His clarification comes days after Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led coalition ahead of the 2027 polls.

Speaking at a political gathering in Enugu, Obi said the coalition signalled a renewed effort to rescue Nigeria from its socio-economic challenges.

“Today is an important day; today is the last day of 2025. We are ending this year with the hope that, in 2026, we will begin a journey of the rescue of our country for proper socio-economic development that will be unifying and inclusive,” Obi said at the event.

Despite Obi’s move, Baba-Ahmed said his relationship with the former Anambra State governor remains intact, insisting that the Labour Party is still strong enough to compete for the presidency.

“I also said if Peter Obi does not get the ticket there in ADC, he is more than welcome back to the Labour Party. I will stand there and nobody will do anything bad to Peter Obi,” he said.

He further suggested that Obi’s return to the Labour Party would be preferable to pursuing what he described as alternative political agendas.

Baba-Ahmed added that, to his knowledge, Obi had not formally defected from the Labour Party, urging clarity on the matter.

“I never heard him say he was defecting to ADC. I did not hear that. Maybe I missed it, but please find out if he said he was joining the coalition or formally joining the ADC,” he said.