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, amid ongoing realignments within Nigeria’s opposition.
Baba-Ahmed made the declaration on Wednesday at a rally held at the Labour Party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
His announcement comes a week after the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a development that has sparked debate over the future of the Labour Party and the wider opposition ahead of the next general election.
Addressing party members and supporters, Baba-Ahmed said his ambition was neither reactionary nor dependent on Obi’s political decisions, stressing that his presidential aspiration predates the 2023 election.
“I have made myself available to contest for the presidency in 2027. I am not following anybody’s trajectory or stepping into anybody’s shoes,” he said.
The former lawmaker recalled that he had earlier sought his party’s presidential ticket before aligning with Obi in 2023, noting that he had previously participated in the Peoples Democratic Party presidential primaries in 2018.
He explained that his decision to support Obi in the last election was driven by what he described as a rare opportunity for national unity.
Baba-Ahmed also addressed concerns related to religion and ethnicity, stating that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees every qualified citizen the right to contest for elective office.
“I am a practising Muslim and a Hausa man, but I am first and foremost a Nigerian. The constitution allows me to contest, and I am doing this because Nigeria needs help,” he said.
However, he noted that he would adhere strictly to party and electoral guidelines, adding that he would refrain from further campaigning until the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Labour Party formally release their timetables.
Reacting to the development, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, commended Baba-Ahmed for remaining in the party despite speculations that he might defect following Obi’s exit.
Abure said the decision showed that the party remained united, adding that key figures, including Abia State Governor Alex Otti, had also chosen to remain.
He disclosed that Baba-Ahmed had proposed a meeting of party leaders and members to reaffirm unity within the party, a move that led to the gathering at the party secretariat.
“The Labour Party is intact. We will remain together and provide a genuine alternative for Nigerians,” Abure said.
Baba-Ahmed’s declaration adds a new dimension to the emerging 2027 presidential race as political parties begin early positioning amid shifting alliances within the opposition.
