By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, formally declared his intention on Wednesday to run for president in the 2027 elections. The announcement was made during a gathering at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja and comes amid ongoing realignments within Nigeria’s opposition.

Baba-Ahmed’s declaration follows closely on last week’s departure of former presidential candidate Peter Obi from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress–a move that has sparked debate over the future of the party and opposition dynamics ahead of the next general election.

Addressing supporters, Baba-Ahmed stressed that his presidential ambition predates the 2023 polls and is not a reaction to Obi’s exit.

“I have decided to contest for the presidency in 2027. I am not following anyone’s trajectory or stepping into anyone’s shoes,” he stated.

“Before His Excellency Peter Obi filed for the presidency, I had already aspired to the office. The records are there.”

He recalled contesting the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential primary in October 2018 before later joining forces with Obi under the Labour Party in 2023.

“I saw a rare opportunity for national unity in Peter Obi’s candidacy, and that is why I decided to flow with it,” Baba-Ahmed explained.

Responding to questions about identity and eligibility, he affirmed: “I am a practising Muslim and a Hausa man, but first I am a Nigerian. The constitution grants me the right to contest. I am doing this because Nigeria needs help.”

However, he noted that he would await official party and electoral guidelines before further campaign steps: “As a law-abiding citizen and loyal party member, I will wait for INEC’s timetable and the Labour Party’s call for aspirants.”

In his response, Labour Party National Chairman Julius Abure commended Baba-Ahmed for his loyalty amid speculation of defection. He highlighted that key figures, including Abia State Governor Alex Otti, also remain with the party.

“On the night Peter Obi defected, Dr. Baba-Ahmed called to confirm he was not leaving the party–the platform through which we secured millions of votes in 2023,” Abure said.

He added that Baba-Ahmed had proposed and helped organize the unity meeting held at the party secretariat.

“The Labour Party is intact,” Abure asserted. “We will not let Nigerians down. We remain united and committed to offering a genuine alternative.”

Baba-Ahmed’s entry adds a new layer to the emerging 2027 presidential contest, signaling early positioning and potential reshaping of opposition alliances.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail in the sum of ₦500 million each to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his wife, and his son.

Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided over the case on Wednesday morning, ruled that each of the defendants must provide two sureties with verified landed properties in any of the highbrow areas of Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The judge further directed that the documents of the properties must be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court. In addition, the sureties are to depose to an affidavit of means to confirm their financial capability.

Justice Nwite also ordered Malami and the co-defendants to deposit their international passports with the court and barred them from travelling outside the country without prior permission.

The ruling came after the trio were arraigned on charges bordering on alleged corruption and abuse of office during Malami’s tenure as Minister of Justice.

Hearing in the case has been adjourned to February 17.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says no aspirant will withdraw from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential race ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a statement issued by Paul Ibe, his media adviser, Abubakar accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to intimidate and weaken the opposition ahead of next year’s elections.

He said all qualified aspirants would “present themselves freely” when the party begins its selection process.

The former vice-president spoke amid reports that he was under pressure to step down for a southern aspirant to emerge as the ADC’s flagbearer.

Abubakar said opposition leaders rallied around the ADC to build a credible national alternative to the ruling party.

“Predictably, agents aligned with the presidency are now attempting to destabilise the ADC from the outside—issuing reckless prescriptions about its internal affairs, particularly the choice of a presidential candidate,” the statement reads.

“Let it be stated plainly: the ADC is on a national rescue mission. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alongside other committed patriots, is central to this effort. Any call — overt or covert — for Atiku to ‘step aside’ is a gift to authoritarian ambition and a betrayal of the Nigerian people.”

Abubakar stressed that the ADC remained committed to “an open, transparent, and competitive process” for selecting its flagbearer.

He said the party is open to all genuine opposition figures, noting that “inclusiveness—not coercion—is the soul of democracy”.

While reiterating that no one in the party would step down, Abubakar said President Tinubu, whose leadership, he said, has become a “national liability”, should be the one to step down.

“Disruptors and infiltrators must allow the party to do this essential work without interference,” he said.

“When the time comes, all qualified aspirants will present themselves freely. No one is stepping down. If anyone should step aside, it is President Tinubu — whose leadership has become a national liability.

“Let there be no ambiguity: the ADC is determined to end the misfortune imposed by the Tinubu-led APC. No amount of intimidation, intrigue, or sabotage will derail this rescue mission.

“Nigeria will not surrender its democracy without a fight.”

He lamented that Nigerians are suffering in “an era defined by punishing economic policies and shrinking democratic space under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.

“True to form, this administration has not only inflicted widespread hardship but has also pursued a calculated effort to eliminate political alternatives. The objective is clear: a creeping, de facto one-party state,” he added.

“Perhaps the Tinubu administration’s most disturbing ‘achievement’ has been the systematic weakening of opposition parties, leaving the All Progressives Congress—despite its manifest failures—standing alone by default, not by merit.”