By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The Labour Party’s intention to form the next government of Nigeria on Friday received a further boost as its presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has officially unveiled Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed as his running mate for the 2023 elections.
Prompt News reports that this came shortly after the running mate “place holder”, Dr. Doyin Okupe, officially withdrew from the race by submitting a letter to that effect days ago in accordance with the Electoral Act 2022.
The unveiling of Senator Baba-Ahmed by Labour Party took place Friday morning at Transcorp Hotel in Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony Obi said Baba-Ahmed was eminently qualified to bring his private sector and academic achievements to bear in the drive to rescue Nigeria from the primitive politics of ethnicity.
He added that the party will anchor its manifesto in coming days on the 17 goals of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Baba-Ahmed is the proprietor of Baze University in Abuja and one-time Senator representing Kaduna North in the National Assembly.
Also, the Labour Party Vice Presidential candidate in the 2023 general election was born to the Elder Baba-Ahmed family in Zaria, Kaduna State, in 1975.
He is among the thirty-three children of his father, Baba Ahmed, who was an Arab cattle-trader from modern day Mauritania, who later became a notable Professor and expert on Islamic jurisprudence.
Senator Baba-Ahmed has a B Sc and M Sc in Economics from the University of Maiduguri in Borno State.
He later worked in the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting, Lagos before entering into politics.
Senator Baba-Ahmed was elected as House of Representatives member for Zaria Federal Constituency on the platform of All Nigeria People’s Party in 2003.
While in the position, he became known for speaking out against corruption and the Third Term Agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In 2006, while a Federal representative, he earned the title of Doctor of Philosophy when he completed his Ph.D studies at the University of Westminster.
Baba-Ahmed was founder and Pro-Chancellor of Baze University, an independent university located in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. which was opened in April 2011.
In the April 2011 elections, Baba-Ahmed polled 366,398 votes in the contest for Senator and won the Senator seat for Kaduna North from 2011 to 2012.
