₦airaland Forum

The Labour Party’s Vice Presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, on Wednesday formally declared his interest in contesting the presidency in 2027, amid ongoing realignments within Nigeria’s opposition space.

Baba-Ahmed, who was the running mate to former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, made the declaration at a rally held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

His announcement comes barely one week after Obi announced his departure from the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress. This move has triggered intense debate over the party’s future and the direction of the wider opposition ahead of the next general election.

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

He said, “I have made myself 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.”

The former lawmaker recalled his earlier attempt to secure his party’s presidential ticket, noting that he had contested in the Peoples Democratic Party primaries years before aligning with Obi in the Labour Party.

“In October 2018, I participated in the primaries of the then PDP in Port Harcourt and walked to Obi for his vote, and he smiled at me. What a gentleman he was.

“If you heard me well in what I just submitted, I saw a rare opportunity for national unity to have elected Peter Obi in 2023. And that is why I decided to flow with it,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed also addressed concerns about religion and ethnicity, insisting that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees every qualified citizen the right to seek elective office.

“Yes, I am a practising Muslim. But I’m a Nigerian, and the constitution allows me to contest. You asked about my ethnicity. Yes, I am a Hausa man, and the Nigerian constitution also allows me to contest. I’m doing this because Nigeria needs help,” he said.

However, Baba-Ahmed noted that while he had made his intention known, he would adhere strictly to party and electoral guidelines.

“However, as a law-abiding citizen and a loyal party member, until the timetable is released by INEC and the leadership of the Labour Party calls for interested aspirants, I will not say anything about it. But remember I told you that Nigerians know the truth,” he stated.

Reacting, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, commended Baba-Ahmed for remaining in the party despite speculations that he might defect following Obi’s exit.

Abure said the development demonstrated that the Labour Party remained intact, adding that several key figures, including the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, had also chosen to stay back.

He said, “Only recently, the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, told the world that he joined the party before Peter Obi did – this is true. Otti also said he was not going to defect to Peter Obi.

“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 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 6 million votes. We all know what happened.”

Abure further disclosed that Baba-Ahmed personally suggested a meeting of party leaders and members to reaffirm unity within the party.

“In fact, he asked me to organise an event where members can come together. He first suggested that we meet at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel with a few senior members that he would foot the bill.

“But I suggested that we hold the event here at the party Secretariat and invite our members, artisans and ordinary people who truly own the party, and he agreed. That is why we are having this gathering here today.

“The Labour Party is intact, we will not let Nigerians down. We will remain together and provide a genuine alternative for Nigerians,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed’s declaration has added a fresh dimension to the emerging 2027 presidential contest, as parties begin early positioning amid shifting alliances within the opposition.

ryloy:
PDP-4
Accord- 1
LP- 1

Others - 0

esnbrutality:
When TINUBU was running his diarrhea mouth against all Governments, he was allowed as a progressive abi?

I repeat it, you can't take what you give freely.

Go sleep..spits

Dvdpity:
He simply means that, Nigerian army navy and air force is extinguish the fire in Nigeria. QED.

attackgat:
https://saharareporters.com/2025/12/25/igbo-community-sokoto-marks-christmas-nnamdi-kanu-other-inmates-prison

Smart detectives and intelligent operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad of the Lagos State Police Command on Thursday, 18th December, 2025, at about 1300 hours, arrested five (5) suspects in connection with a fake and stage-managed kidnapping incident in a viral video of a schoolboy pleading for mercy in a fake kidnappers’ den.

(2) Preliminary investigation revealed that the incident, which initially generated widespread public concern, was first reported as a case of a missing person at Ago Palace Division on 26th November, 2025. Subsequent to the investigation, it was established that the alleged kidnap was deliberately orchestrated by the victim himself, one Victor Aligwo ‘m’, in collaboration with four of his friends, using the room of his cohorts, Umeh Victor, to carry out the fake kidnapping act.

(3) Following diligent, intelligence-led, and discreet investigation, the suspects were apprehended on the 17th and 18th of December, 2025, at Volkswagen Roundabout and the Ago Palace area, respectively. The suspects who faked the Kidnapping incident were arrested and are now in police custody. They are Kosiko Patrick ‘m’ 17 years, Victor Aligwo ‘m’ 15 years, David Odudu ‘m’ 19 years, Anyabike Kingsley ‘m’ 20 years, Umeh Victor ‘m’ 19 years.

(4) Further investigation revealed that the suspects allegedly conspired to stage the fake kidnapping with the intent of extorting money from the mother of the suspected victim, Victor Aligwo, who had recently received the sum of Four Million Naira (₦4,000,000) from a contribution.

(3) To actualise and make the fake kidnapping real, the suspects recorded and circulated a distress video showing Victor Aligwo pleading for help, thereby creating fear and panic in the mind of his mother and his family to pay ransom to the alleged kidnappers.

(5) A ransom of One Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira (₦1.7 million) was paid and later transferred to the account of one of the fake kidnappers by the mother to get him freed. The money was later shared amongst them. Following the payment, the Police operatives traced the Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal used for the ransom transaction, leading to the arrest of all suspects involved. Investigation into the matter is ongoing, and all the suspects will be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction for their prosecution.

(6) The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, has thereby warned all criminal elements to desist from any form of crime and curtailed any form of criminal activities within the state, assuring that the Command will not relent in ensuring the safety of lives and property.

(7) The Command wishes to reassure residents that this incident was not a case of kidnapping, and that there is no cause for panic. Members of the public are encouraged to continue their lawful activities and promptly report any suspicious acts or movements to the Police through the Command’s emergency number: 0706 101 9374, 0806 515 4338, 0806 329 9264, 0803 934 4870

SP ABIMBOLA ADEBISI, anipr, mipra,
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FOR: THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,
LAGOS STATE COMMAND.

19TH DECEMBER, 2025

Af0nja2:
SMS Between Primate Ayodele and Min. Of Power Bayo Adelabu Page 4

All these messages from Primate Elijah Ayodele to Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu.

Prophecy Hustle nah real hustle walahi
😂😂😂😂😂

toffyz:
Adeleke no apply sense in this situation at all, why not joining the winning, the ruling and the unbeatable party, APC.

AWONEYAN:
When it's Rufai turn, He should appoint his enemy to position

TrioVibes:
MR EBENEZER AKARAH



Mr Ebenezer Akarah, Chief Executive Officer/Founder, Bricks to Crib Company

FarahAideed:
Did you know?
In 1998, five political parties in Nigeria — the UNCP, CNC, DPN, NDP, and GDM — all adopted General Sani Abacha as their sole presidential candidate.

It was called “The Five Fingers of a Leprous Hand” by Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, symbolizing how Nigeria’s political space had collapsed into one-man rule.

helinues:
Seun should actually do something about it. There are currently two pages doing that consistently on this forum.

If you want to copy others people work, even if you are not going to give them credit, stop adding your website as the source

Orlandoo:
How did you know that? Any proof?