KEY POINTS

• Datti Baba Ahmed announced his 2027 presidential ambition at the Labour Party secretariat in Abuja.
• He said his aspiration is independent of Peter Obi’s recent move to the ADC.
• Party leaders say the declaration shows the Labour Party remains united.

Datti Baba Ahmed, who ran for vice president of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, has officially said he wants to run for president of Nigeria in 2027.

Baba Ahmed made the announcement on Wednesday at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, where he spoke to party leaders, supporters, and the general public. His announcement comes just a week after Peter Obi, the party’s candidate for president in 2023, switched to the African Democratic Congress.

Baba Ahmed told the crowd that Obi’s political moves had nothing to do with his decision. He said that his desire to run for president started long before the 2023 election.

“I am ready to run for office in 2027.” He said, “I am not following anyone’s path or putting on anyone else’s shoes.”

Datti Claims ambition predates 2023 race

Baba Ahmed remembered that he had tried to get a presidential ticket before joining Obi on the Labour Party platform. He said that records would show that he wanted to lead the country before he was chosen to be a running mate.

He also talked about how he tried to get Obi’s support during the 2018 presidential primaries for the People’s Democratic Party.

He said that the 2023 election offered a rare chance for the country to come together, which is why he chose to support Obi at that time.

Baba Ahmed also talked about worries about religious and ethnic identity. He stressed that Nigeria’s constitution lets any qualified citizen run for office.

He said he was a practicing Muslim and a Hausa man, and that neither of these things should keep him from getting involved in politics. He went on to say that he wants to be president because he thinks Nigeria needs strong leadership and direction right now.

He said he wouldn’t actively campaign until the election schedule is made public and the party officially starts accepting nominations.