The Labour Party (LP) vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, says he agreed to partner with Peter Obi largely out of sympathy for the former Anambra governor.
Speaking in an interview with Symfoni, Baba-Ahmed revealed that Obi had approached three prominent politicians ahead of the 2023 presidential election, but none agreed to join his ticket.
According to him, he felt compelled to support Obi because of both the political circumstances at the time and his concern for the country.
“People don’t understand that between me and Obi, there is a great deal of sympathy. I have sympathy for him. And this sympathy was at the core of our relationship,” he said.
“When he approached three other major politicians in 2022, I would have been glad if one of them had gone with Peter Obi in 2022. But they all avoided him. I felt bad for him and I felt bad for Nigeria as a nation.”
Baba-Ahmed said he willingly accepted the role because he believed it was necessary for Nigeria.
“I took it upon myself because naturally I have always been a volunteer. For the sake of Nigeria, I extended that sympathy to him,” he said.
Obi officially joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) on May 3 after initially aligning with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as part of an opposition coalition. He left the ADC alongside former Kano governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, citing uncertainties surrounding the party’s future.
Before departing the Labour Party, Obi had a prolonged leadership dispute with Julius Abure, the party’s factional chairman.
Baba-Ahmed criticised Obi’s decision to leave the LP, arguing that internal challenges are common in political parties and should be resolved rather than avoided.
“If Abure was a problem, what makes him think Nwosu or David Mark of ADC will not be a problem? What makes him think Seriake of NDC will not be a problem?” he asked.
“So it’s the same thing wherever you go. Stay here and fix the problem and let’s work together. But he decided to move.”
The former vice-presidential candidate also stressed that his political career is independent of Obi’s.
“With due respect, he does not own my politics; he doesn’t own me. I am independent,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed has since moved to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) after announcing his exit from the Labour Party.