Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, has publicly declared his intention to contest the 2027 Nigerian presidency, adding new momentum to the opposition landscape as parties position ahead of the next general election. Baba-Ahmed made the announcement at a rally held at the LP’s national secretariat in Abuja, emphasising his willingness to contest independent of recent high-profile party realignments.
Baba-Ahmed’s declaration comes shortly after the departure of former LP presidential candidate Peter Obi to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), sparking speculation about the Labour Party’s trajectory. The former lawmaker and businessman stressed that his presidential ambition pre-dates the 2023 election and is not driven by Obi’s political decisions, signalling a continuity in his long-standing political aspirations.
He recounts earlier efforts to secure the presidential nomination years before Obi’s candidacy, noting his previous participation in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries before aligning with Obi under the LP banner. Baba-Ahmed also addressed concerns around religion and ethnicity, reaffirming that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees every qualified citizen the right to seek elective office.
The declaration adds a significant chapter to the emerging 2027 election contest, where opposition parties are rapidly reshaping strategies, fostering unity and positioning candidates in anticipation of a highly competitive race.
