Labour Party Vice Presidential Candidate in the 2023 election, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, has officially announced his intention to run for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027, amid shifting dynamics within the country’s opposition parties
Baba-Ahmed, who was Peter Obi’s running mate in 2023, made the declaration at a rally held at the Labour Party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.
His announcement comes just a week after Obi left the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress, a move that has sparked discussions about the party’s future and the wider opposition landscape ahead of the next general election.
Addressing supporters, Baba-Ahmed emphasized that his presidential ambition is independent of Obi’s decisions, noting that his desire to run predates the 2023 election.
He said, “I have made myself to contest for the office in 2027. I’m not following anybody’s trajectory or stepping into anybody’s shoes. Can I 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 senator also reflected on his earlier political journey, recalling his attempt to secure the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential ticket in 2018 before joining Obi in the Labour Party.
“In October 2018, I participated in the PDP primaries in Port Harcourt and walked to Obi for his vote, and he smiled at me. What a gentleman he was. 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 said.
Addressing potential concerns about religion and ethnicity, Baba-Ahmed stated that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees every qualified citizen the right to seek elective office.
“Yes, I am a practising Muslim, and yes, I am a Hausa man. But I’m a Nigerian, and the constitution allows me to contest. I’m doing this because Nigeria needs help,” he added.
While revealing his intentions, Baba-Ahmed stressed that he would follow party and electoral rules.
“Until INEC releases the timetable and the Labour Party leadership officially calls for aspirants, I will not take any further steps. But remember, Nigerians know the truth,” he said.
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