I Have Made Myself Available – Datti Baba-Ahmed Declares Intention To Contest For Presidency

Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s former vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has announced his intention to contest the presidency in the 2027 polls.

He declared his interest at a rally held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

The declaration is coming barely one week after former presidential candidate, Peter Obi announced his departure from the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Speaking to party members and supporters, Baba-Ahmed said his aspiration was neither reactionary nor dependent on Obi’s political decisions, adding that his presidential ambition predates the 2023 election.

“I have made myself available 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,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Julius Abure-led Labour Party has played down concerns over the departure of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, insisting that the party remains strong and capable of competing effectively in the 2027 general elections.

“We had laundered the image of our party with several people of influence coming to us to say they want to join, some actually joined,” Abure said.

He added, “Only recently, the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, told the world that he joined the party before Peter Obi did, this is true.”

The LP chairman disclosed that Governor Otti had made it clear he would not defect alongside Obi, a development he described as further proof of the party’s stability.

“He also said he was not going to defect with Peter Obi,” Abure stated.

Abure stated this on Wednesday during a party rally held at the Labour Party’s National Headquarters in Abuja, where party leaders and supporters gathered to reaffirm their commitment to the platform.

Addressing party faithful, Abure acknowledged the role Obi played in the party’s fortunes during the 2023 elections but cautioned against attributing the party’s success solely to his influence.

According to him, the Labour Party’s growth predates Obi’s entry and was driven by collective efforts and reforms within the party.

Recounting events following Obi’s defection, Abure revealed that he received a phone call from the party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, who reaffirmed his loyalty to the party.

“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.

Abure said Baba-Ahmed told him he would not leave the Labour Party because it was the platform that earned the presidential ticket millions of votes in 2023.

“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 six million votes, we all know what happened,” Abure added.

According to him, Baba-Ahmed also suggested a reconciliation meeting involving senior party members, but later agreed that the gathering should involve grassroots supporters.