‘I’m independent, Peter Obi doesn’t own me’ — Datti Baba-Ahmed
Datti Baba-Ahmed Defends Departure from Labour Party
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, former vice-presidential candidate for the Labour Party, has publicly articulated his reasons for leaving the party to join the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). He emphasized that his political decisions are independent of Peter Obi, his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.
In an appearance on the Naija Unfiltered podcast, Baba-Ahmed stated that he chose not to follow Obi into a new political coalition, believing that the internal issues within the Labour Party should have been resolved rather than abandoned. He expressed concern about the logic of leaving one party due to internal strife only to join another that might face similar challenges.
“If Abure was a problem, what makes him think the Nwosu or the David Mark of the ADC will not be a problem?” Baba-Ahmed questioned. He suggested that the dynamics are similar across parties and expressed a desire for leaders to address issues within their platforms rather than moving to new ones.
He further clarified, “With due respect, Peter Obi does not own my politics, he does not own me. I am independent.” Baba-Ahmed stated that he had communicated his reasons for not joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC) alongside Obi and has chosen to pursue his political future through a different path.
As the political landscape shifts in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections, Baba-Ahmed’s transition to the PRP highlights the divisions among opposition figures regarding strategies to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). His departure marks a significant shift from the alliance that previously bolstered the Labour Party’s performance in the last election.
