Former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has dismissed widespread reports claiming that he recently declared his intention to contest the Nigerian presidency, describing the claims as inaccurate and driven by misinterpretation.
Speaking on Channels Television on Friday, Baba-Ahmed stated clearly that he never made any declaration to run for president, contrary to reports that circulated widely across traditional and social media platforms.
“I never declared to contest the presidency two days ago,” he said.
According to him, his recent public comments were limited to reaffirming his continued membership of the Labour Party, amid growing political discussions about the party’s future direction and key political figures. He noted that while political possibilities may exist in the future, no announcement or decision has been made at this time.
The clarification follows widespread media and social media reports that Baba-Ahmed was positioning himself for a presidential run ahead of the next general election. The reports sparked debate among supporters and political observers, many of whom interpreted his remarks as an early signal of ambition.
Explaining further, Baba-Ahmed said, “Two days ago, what I did was simply say that I remain in the Labour Party. 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 reiterated my membership of the Labour Party, and that is all.”
He added that any formal declaration of interest would depend on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable and the Labour Party’s internal processes.
“The submission I made was that one will have to wait for the INEC timetable and for the party to make the call for people to indicate their interest. I did not declare,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed also criticised the role of social media in amplifying misinformation, warning that sensational narratives often mislead the public and distort political discourse. He urged professional media organisations to maintain accuracy and act as filters against false information.
“It is unfortunate that social media can be so sensational, putting out wrong narratives to emotional listeners. I believe formal media like yours should serve as filters and barriers so that the general public can always consume the correct information,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed was the vice-presidential running mate to Peter Obi in the 2023 general election, where the Labour Party emerged as a major political force.
