The Labour Party’s Vice Presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, on Wednesday formally declared his interest in contesting the presidency in 2027, amid ongoing realignments within Nigeria’s opposition space.

Baba-Ahmed, who was the running mate to former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, made the declaration at a rally held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

His announcement comes barely one week after Obi announced his departure from the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress.
This move has triggered intense debate over the party’s future and the direction of the wider opposition ahead of the next general election.

Addressing party members and supporters, Baba-Ahmed said his aspiration was neither reactionary nor dependent on Obi’s political decisions, stressing that his presidential ambition predates the 2023 election.

He said, “I have made myself to contest for the office in 2027. I’m not following anybody’s trajectory or stepping into anybody’s shoes.

“Can I please remind you that before His Excellency Governor Peter Obi filed for the presidency, I aspired for the presidency before him? The records are there for you to see.”

The former lawmaker recalled his earlier attempt to secure his party’s presidential ticket, noting that he had contested in the Peoples Democratic Party primaries years before aligning with Obi in the Labour Party.

“In October 2018, I participated in the primaries of the then PDP in Port Harcourt and walked to Obi for his vote, and he smiled at me. What a gentleman he was.

“If you heard me well in what I just submitted, I saw a rare opportunity for national unity to have elected Peter Obi in 2023. And that is why I decided to flow with it,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed also addressed concerns about religion and ethnicity, insisting that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees every qualified citizen the right to seek elective office.

“Yes, I am a practising Muslim. But I’m a Nigerian, and the constitution allows me to contest. You asked about my ethnicity. Yes, I am a Hausa man, and the Nigerian constitution also allows me to contest. I’m doing this because Nigeria needs help,” he said.

However, Baba-Ahmed noted that while he had made his intention known, he would adhere strictly to party and electoral guidelines.

“However, as a law-abiding citizen and a loyal party member, until the timetable is released by INEC and the leadership of the Labour Party calls for interested aspirants, I will not say anything about it. But remember I told you that Nigerians know the truth,” he stated.

Reacting, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, commended Baba-Ahmed for remaining in the party despite speculations that he might defect following Obi’s exit.

Abure said the development demonstrated that the Labour Party remained intact, adding that several key figures, including the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, had also chosen to stay back.

He said, “Only recently, the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, told the world that he joined the party before Peter Obi did – this is true. Otti also said he was not going to defect to Peter Obi.

“On the night Peter Obi defected, I received a telephone call from our Vice-Presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed. He said he is not leaving the party because it was the platform upon which he, along with the former candidate, received 10 million votes from Nigerians, which was reduced to 6 million votes. We all know what happened.”

Abure further disclosed that Baba-Ahmed personally suggested a meeting of party leaders and members to reaffirm unity within the party.

“In fact, he asked me to organise an event where members can come together. He first suggested that we meet at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel with a few senior members that he would foot the bill.

“But I suggested that we hold the event here at the party Secretariat and invite our members, artisans and ordinary people who truly own the party, and he agreed. That is why we are having this gathering here today.

“The Labour Party is intact, we will not let Nigerians down. We will remain together and provide a genuine alternative for Nigerians,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed’s declaration has added a fresh dimension to the emerging 2027 presidential contest, as parties begin early positioning amid shifting alliances within the opposition.

Venezuela will be “turning over” 30 to 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday in the aftermath of the toppling of Nicolas Maduro, who was seized from his country by U.S. forces over the weekend.

“This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!” Trump said in a social media post.

Trump announced in a post on his social media platform, saying he has directed Energy Secretary Chris Wright to implement the plan immediately.

According to the president, the oil will be transported by storage ships directly to U.S. unloading docks, where it will be sold at prevailing market rates.

“This oil will be sold at its market price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States,” Trump wrote.

The announcement follows a dramatic shift in Venezuela’s political landscape after U.S. forces captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this week, significantly reshaping Washington’s engagement with Caracas.

In addition to the oil transfer plan, Trump’s administration is organizing an Oval Office meeting with executives from major U.S. oil companies, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips, to discuss Venezuela’s energy sector and potential future cooperation.

Venezuela holds some of the world’s largest crude oil reserves, but years of underinvestment, sanctions, and declining production have limited output. Analysts say the logistics of ramping up Venezuelan oil exports remain complex, even as U.S. policy shifts open the door to expanded involvement by American energy firms.

The move has triggered mixed reactions globally, as markets and governments assess the implications for energy supplies, geopolitical relations, and long-term stability in the Western Hemisphere.

The tax laws that took effect last week will support sustainable development and rapid economic growth, Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), formerly Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, has said.

Speaking on a national television yesterday, Adedeji explained that while tax reform often attracts political commentary, the overriding objective remains the stability of the economy and the development of credible institutions capable of supporting long-term national progress.

He dismissed fears that the new tax reform framework could be used by the Federal Government to marginalise political opposition or target individuals based on political affiliation.

Adedeji said the reforms were driven by national interest and institutional accountability.

He responded to concerns that the new tax regime might be weaponised through selective enforcement or politically motivated scrutiny of tax compliance records.

He noted that such insinuations were misdirected, stressing that the administration’s approach to tax reform is guided by transparency, due process and a commitment to building strong and credible institutions.

Addressing a question on whether the reforms could be used to suppress opposition voices, Adedeji said: “We need to commend the courage of Mr President, that even though there is an election coming, he is courageous enough to continue on this path of statesmanship, not of that of politicians.”

He explained that it would have been easier politically for the government to avoid far-reaching fiscal and institutional reforms ahead of an election cycle, but the President chose to continue with measures aimed at strengthening the country’s fiscal foundation and improving economic governance.

According to him, the tax reform agenda is focused on correcting structural weaknesses in the system, improving fairness, and creating a simplified and predictable compliance environment that encourages voluntary participation rather than fear or coercion.

Adedeji said the scepticism expressed in some quarters is influenced by Nigeria’s historical concerns about how public institutions have previously been perceived.

He maintained that the new framework is being designed to reduce discretion in tax administration and ensure that processes are rule-based.

He said the NRS was working to institutionalise systems that promote accountability, automation and stronger governance safeguards, so that tax administration is guided by law rather than individual judgment or political influence.

The NRS Chairman added that the reform journey places strong emphasis on trust between government and taxpayers, noting that confidence grows when citizens are assured that tax policies are not shaped by partisan considerations.

He said the administration’s approach is centred on expanding growth opportunities, sustainably strengthening public finances and creating a system where citizens can clearly see the relationship between taxes paid and improvements in public services.

He said the ongoing implementation process will continue through structured phases, with the ultimate goal of building a tax environment that supports investment, protects vulnerable groups and strengthens confidence in public administration, while insulating tax processes from political interference.