The Labour Party (LP) vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, stated that he never expressed interest in contesting for the presidency in 2027.
Datti made the remarks on Friday during an interview, explaining that he only emphasized that he remains a member of the LP.
“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.”
He criticized social media users who spread sensational stories, accusing them of creating false narratives to manipulate emotional listeners.
His statement follows news of Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, aligning with the coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“Today is an important day; today is the last day of 2025, so we are ending this year with the hope that, in 2026, we will begin a journey of the rescue of our country for proper socio-economic development that will be unifying and inclusive,” Obi said at an event in Enugu, where he and some South-East leaders formally declared for the ADC.
Datti and Obi ran on a joint ticket in that election, but Datti has remained with the LP, asserting that the party is strong enough to vie for Nigeria’s highest office.
The Kaduna-born politician added that Obi’s decision to join the coalition does not affect his relationship with the former Anambra State governor.
“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,” Datti stated.
He further urged Obi to submit his resignation letter and membership card to the LP, emphasizing that he “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.”
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