Datti Baba-Ahmed Denies Declaring Interest To Contest For 2027 Presidency

Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has denied saying he would run for president in 2027, explaining that his recent comments were misunderstood.

Speaking on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Datti said he only made it clear that he is still a member of the Labour Party, not that he had declared any presidential ambition.

He explained that while contesting the presidency in the future might be possible, he has not made any such announcement.

“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.

“That is all and in the submissions I made, 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.”

Datti accused some social media users of twisting his words and spreading misleading stories, which he said confused many people who followed the reports.

His remarks come shortly after Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition.

Although Datti and Obi contested the last election together, Datti has remained in the Labour Party and believes it still has the strength to compete for the presidency.

Datti said Obi’s decision to work with the ADC has not affected their personal relationship.

“I also said if Peter Obi does not get the ticket there in ADC, he is more than welcome back to the Labour Party.

“I will stand there and nobody will do anything bad to Peter Obi. It is better for him to come back than for him to do another type of agenda,” he said.

Datti also insisted that he has not heard Obi openly declare that he has defected to the ADC, urging clarity on whether Obi merely joined a coalition or officially left the Labour Party.

“I never heard him say defecting to ADC. I did not hear that, maybe I missed it but please find out if he said joining the coalition or joining the ADC,” he said.

KanyiDaily recalls that the ADC had invited Datti Baba-Ahmed to the coalition after he accused the party of deceiving Nigerians.