By Muhammad Mamman
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, former vice-presidential candidate of Nigeria’s Labour Party, has denied reports suggesting that he has declared an intention to contest the country’s presidency, describing such claims as false and misleading.
Speaking in a recent public intervention, Baba-Ahmed said he had not made any formal or informal declaration to run for the highest office in the land, urging the public to disregard speculation circulating in political circles and on social media.
“I never declared to contest the presidency,” he said, stressing that no announcement had been made by him or on his behalf.
The Labour Party chieftain noted that discussions around Nigeria’s future leadership should be guided by clarity, truth and due process, rather than assumptions and unverified reports.
Baba-Ahmed rose to national prominence as the running mate to Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election, a ticket that energised many young voters and reshaped political conversations across the country.
His clarification comes amid early manoeuvring and growing debate over potential contenders ahead of Nigeria’s next general election, with several political figures being linked to possible presidential ambitions despite the absence of formal declarations.
For now, Baba-Ahmed’s statement appears aimed at dousing speculation and refocusing attention on substantive national issues rather than premature campaign narratives.
