Vice-Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed has denied reports suggesting that he has declared interest in contesting the presidency in 2027.
Senator Baba-Ahmed made the clarification on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, saying he only reaffirmed his continued 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.
He added that discussions about the 2027 presidential election are premature, noting that political parties and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have not released official timetables.
“I clearly stated that one will have to wait for the INEC timetable and for the party to make the call for people to indicate their interest,” Baba-Ahmed said.
The LP chieftain blamed the misrepresentation of his comments on social media, accusing some individuals of spreading misleading narratives.
He urged the public to rely on verified statements and official processes rather than speculative reports.
Baba-Ahmed had previously made headlines for a rally at the Labour Party’s national secretariat in Abuja, where he discussed his political experience and past attempts at a presidential ticket.
At the time, he said his ambition predates the 2023 election and that he would follow party and electoral guidelines before taking any steps toward contesting.
Labour Party National chairman Julius Abure commended Baba-Ahmed for remaining in the party after former presidential candidate Peter Obi left for the African Democratic Congress, noting that several other key figures have also stayed.
Datti Baba-Ahmed’s clarification ends speculation about his immediate political plans for 2027, as parties prepare for the next general election.
