January 07, (THEWILL) — The former Labour Party (LP) vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, stressing that his ambition is independent and not tied to the political path of any individual.
Baba-Ahmed made the declaration on Wednesday at the Labour Party National Secretariat in Abuja, against the backdrop of ongoing opposition realignments ahead of the next general election.
Dismissing suggestions that his move was influenced by the recent defection of his 2023 running mate, Peter Obi, from the party, Baba-Ahmed said his presidential aspiration predates the last election cycle.
“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 told party members and supporters at the rally.
The former senator recalled that he had earlier sought the presidency during the 2018 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary, long before joining forces with Obi on the Labour Party platform in the 2023 election.
He also addressed issues of ethnicity and religion in Nigerian politics, maintaining that the Constitution guarantees every qualified citizen the right to seek elective office, regardless of background.
Baba-Ahmed pledged to abide by internal party rules and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines when the electoral timetable for the 2027 polls is released.
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