The Labour Party’s vice presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has dismissed reports claiming that he has declared his intention to contest the presidency in 2027.
Baba-Ahmed made the clarification during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday, where he explained that his recent remarks had been misinterpreted. According to him, he only reaffirmed his membership of the Labour Party (LP) and did not make any formal declaration of interest in the 2027 presidential race.
“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,” Baba-Ahmed said. “I simply reiterated my membership of the Labour Party.”
He stressed that discussions around the 2027 elections are still premature, noting that political parties and aspirants must wait for the official timetable from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before any formal steps can be taken.
Baba-Ahmed further explained that the Labour Party would also need to open the process and invite interested members to indicate their intentions in line with established procedures. “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 added.
While he did not completely rule out the possibility of seeking the presidency in the future, the former vice presidential candidate maintained that no such decision has been made at this time. His comments appear aimed at calming speculations and setting the record straight amid growing political discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The clarification comes as political actors across party lines begin early positioning for the next election cycle, even as official activities remain some years away.
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