Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has refuted claims that he recently declared his intention to run for the presidency, describing such reports as a misrepresentation of his remarks.
Baba-Ahmed made the clarification on Friday during an interview on Channels Television, where he stressed that no formal or informal declaration had been made.
“I never declared to contest the presidency two days ago,” he stated.
He explained that his recent public comments were limited to reaffirming his continued membership of the Labour Party, amid ongoing conversations about the party’s future and leadership direction. While acknowledging that political possibilities could arise in the future, he said no decision or announcement had been taken.
The clarification follows widespread reports across traditional and social media platforms suggesting that Baba-Ahmed was positioning himself for a presidential run ahead of the next general election, sparking debate among supporters and political analysts.
Providing further context, Baba-Ahmed said his remarks were wrongly interpreted.
“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,” he said.
He added that any decision to contest would depend on the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Labour Party’s internal processes.
“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 added.
Baba-Ahmed also criticised the role of social media in spreading misinformation, urging professional media organisations to prioritise accuracy and responsible reporting.
“It is unfortunate that social media can be so sensational, putting out wrong narratives to emotional listeners. I believe formal media should serve as filters so the public can always get the correct information,” he said.
