In a significant political development, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, the former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has officially declared his intention to run for president in the 2027 general elections. His announcement comes as a direct response to the recent defection of the party's 2023 flagbearer, Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress.
A Declaration of Intent and Party Stability
Baba-Ahmed made his presidential ambition public on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, during a rally at the Labour Party's national secretariat in Abuja. The event, held barely a week after Obi's departure, was framed as a move to reassure party members and demonstrate continuity. Addressing supporters, Baba-Ahmed firmly stated that his aspiration was long-standing and independent of Obi's political trajectory. "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 asserted.
He reminded the audience that his interest in the presidency predates the 2023 election cycle. "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," Baba-Ahmed added. He reflected on his 2018 bid for the Peoples Democratic Party's presidential ticket in Port Harcourt, noting a cordial interaction with Obi during that period.
Emphasising National Unity and Constitutional Rights
The former lawmaker explained that his decision to join Obi as a running mate in 2023 was motivated by a desire for national unity. "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 stated. When confronted with questions regarding his religious and ethnic identity, Baba-Ahmed pivoted the conversation towards constitutional provisions. "Yes, I am a practising Muslim. But I'm a Nigerian, and the constitution allows me to contest. 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," he declared.
Baba-Ahmed stressed his commitment to due process, stating he would await the official timetable from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and his party's internal procedures before further campaign activities. "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," he said.
Party Leadership Applauds Loyalty and Resilience
Reacting to the declaration, the Labour Party National Chairman, Julius Abure, praised Baba-Ahmed for his steadfast loyalty. Abure revealed that on the night of Obi's defection, he received a reassuring call from Baba-Ahmed. "He said he is not leaving the party because it was the platform upon which he, along with the former candidate, received millions of votes from Nigerians," Abure recounted.
Abure added that it was Baba-Ahmed who proposed the gathering of stakeholders to reaffirm party unity, which led to the Abuja rally. "The Labour Party is intact, we will not let Nigerians down," the chairman affirmed. This move by Baba-Ahmed has immediately reshaped the internal dynamics of the Labour Party, injecting fresh momentum into the early manoeuvring for the 2027 presidential election and signalling the party's determination to remain a formidable force in Nigeria's opposition landscape.
