By Eteteonline
On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s (LP) vice presidential candidate in the 2023 election, formally announced his intention to run for president in 2027, calling those who had deserted political travelers a coalition of disgruntled politicians.
The statement was made during a rally at the national secretariat of the Labour Party in Abuja by Baba-Ahmed, the running mate of former presidential candidate Peter Obi.
Speaking to party members and supporters, Baba-Ahmed emphasized that his desire for president predates the 2023 election and that it is not reactionary nor reliant on Obi’s political choices.
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 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.”
“In October 2018, I participated in the primaries of the then PDP in Port Harcourt and walked to Obi for his vote, and he smiled at me. What a gentleman he was.
“If you heard me well in what I just submitted, 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.
“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 said.
He made fun of several former members who, in his opinion, were invited to join the LP as part of its 2022 presidential ticket but subsequently decided to quit.
The defectors, he said, were temporary politicians. “A group of political travelers welcomed in 2022 with a presidential ticket continues with their journey. Simple.”
“I had earlier engaged all party members to reconcile, and while some heeded my calls, others took offence and proceeded to defect.
“On the night Peter Obi defected, I received a telephone call from our Vice-Presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed. He said he is not leaving the party because it was the platform upon which he, along with the former candidate, received 10 million votes from Nigerians, which was reduced to 6 million votes. We all know what happened.”
“No regrets to me for this role, however, as a leader in this party. In this defection case, neither my humble self nor the Labour Party are the aggressors.”
Despite obstacles, he said, the LP is nevertheless pleased of its accomplishment, pointing out that the party had significant electoral victories in the most recent general election.
Although he had stated his intention, Baba-Ahmed said he would scrupulously follow party and election rules.
“However, 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. But remember I told you that Nigerians know the truth,” he stated.
He recounted the achievements of the LP despite challenges, applauding significant electoral achievements in the last general election.
“With all humility, Labour Party can flaunt its success. In the presence of financial difficulties in an era of perfected electoral fraud, the Labour Party produced a state governor, eight senators, about 40 House of Representatives members, and 50 State House of Assembly members,” he said.
In response, Julius Abure, a factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, praised Baba-Ahmed for sticking with the party in spite of rumors that he would leave after Obi’s departure.
Abure claimed that the move showed the Labour Party was still in place and that a number of important individuals, such as Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, had also made the decision to remain.
“Only recently, the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, told the world that he joined the party before Peter Obi did – this is true. Otti also said he was not going to defect.”
“In fact, he asked me to organise an event where members can come together. He first suggested that we meet at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel with a few senior members that he would foot the bill.
“But I suggested that we hold the event here at the party Secretariat and invite our members, artisans and ordinary people who truly own the party, and he agreed. That is why we are having this gathering here today.
“The Labour Party is intact, we will not let Nigerians down. We will remain together and provide a genuine alternative for Nigerians,” he said.
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