Labour Party National Secretary Umar Farouk Ibrahim has affirmed that Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed is just as qualified as Peter Obi to contest Nigeria’s presidency in 2027. In a recent interview, Ibrahim explained that the party’s presidential ticket is open to all aspirants and not reserved exclusively for Obi—especially given his ongoing association with the ADC coalition .
The secretary warned that continued engagement with the African Democratic Congress could cost Obi his eligibility for the LP ticket: “If those people don’t come back to us, they will lose that opportunity,” Ibrahim stated. He stressed that LP membership and loyalty remain prerequisites for internal primaries .
He further emphasized that the ticket must be earned through grassroots support and party structures, rejecting any notion of automatic endorsement. “Datti is qualified to contest for the presidency as good as Peter Obi,” Ibrahim reiterated, inviting Baba-Ahmed to formally run if he chooses to participate under Labour Party umbrella .
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed himself addressed the situation, calling Obi “free to fly the Labour Party flag in 2027 with or without me.” He described his presence in ADC meetings as part of coalition dialogue—not anti-party behaviour—and affirmed his respect and support for Obi should he remain in LP .
Observers say this development reflects widening factional tensions within the Labour Party. While Obi remains a popular figure, Datti’s academic pedigree and political experience—enhanced by Baze University and prior legislative service—have positioned him as a credible alternative should Obi’s ADC ties cost him the ticket
