The former vice-presidential candidate of Nigeria’s Labour Party, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has formally declared his intention to run for the presidency in 2027, following a dramatic split in the country’s opposition.
The announcement comes just one week after his 2023 running mate, Peter Obi, announced he was leaving the Labour Party to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Speaking at a rally at the party’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, Senator Baba-Ahmed insisted his ambition was not a reaction to Mr. Obi’s departure but a longstanding goal.
“I am not following anybody’s trajectory or stepping into anybody’s shoes,” he told a crowd of supporters. “Before His Excellency Peter Obi filed for the presidency, I aspired for the presidency before him. The records are there.”
A party in transition
Mr Obi’s exit has sent shockwaves through the “Obidient” movement that disrupted Nigeria’s traditional two-party system in 2023. While many expected Mr Baba-Ahmed to follow his former principal, he has instead chosen to stay and fight for the future of the Labour Party.
Key moments from the declaration:
- Historical context: Mr Baba-Ahmed recalled his 2018 bid for the PDP presidential ticket, noting he had been a contender long before aligning with Mr. Obi.
- Identity and Rights: A practicing Muslim from Kaduna State, he dismissed concerns about ethnicity or religion, stating, “I am a Hausa man, and the Nigerian constitution allows me to contest. I’m doing this because Nigeria needs help.”
- Party Loyalty: He pledged to wait for the official INEC timetable before launching a full campaign, out of respect for electoral guidelines.
‘The Labour Party is intact’
The party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, used the event to reassure members that the party remains a viable alternative despite the high-profile defection.
Mr Abure revealed that other key figures, including the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, have also committed to staying.
“The Labour Party is intact,” Mr. Abure said. “On the night Peter Obi defected, I received a call from Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed. He said he is not leaving the party because it was the platform upon which they received millions of votes from Nigerians.”
Analysis: A crowded opposition
The move marks the beginning of an early and complex reshuffling of Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of 2027. With Mr. Obi moving to the ADC and Mr. Baba-Ahmed staking his claim to the Labour Party, the opposition appears increasingly fragmented.
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