Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Former Labour Party vice‑presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba‑Ahmed has disclosed that his decision to run alongside Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election was driven largely by sympathy, after three prominent politicians allegedly rejected overtures from the former Anambra governor in 2022. In an interview with Symfoni published on 3 June 2026, Baba‑Ahmed said many Nigerians misunderstood the nature of his political partnership with Obi, insisting that compassion – not political obligation – lay at the core of their alliance.
“People don’t understand between me and Peter Obi – I have a great deal of sympathy for him. And this sympathy was at the core of our relationship,” Baba‑Ahmed said. He added that Obi had approached three major political figures in 2022 seeking partnership, but all declined. “When he approached three major politicians in 2022 they avoided him. I would have been glad if in 2022 one of them went with Peter Obi. They all avoided him. I felt bad for him and for Nigeria as a nation.”
Baba‑Ahmed declined to name the three politicians or explain the reasons for their refusal, stating cryptically, “You and I know the reason, and I don’t have to say it now.” He also framed his own intervention as a patriotic act. “I took it upon myself because naturally I have always been a volunteer for Nigeria.”
The former vice‑presidential candidate used the interview to firmly reject suggestions that he would follow Obi into any future political platform. Obi has since left the Labour Party, first joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and later moving to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where he was recently unveiled as the party’s 2027 presidential candidate with former Kano governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate. Baba‑Ahmed, meanwhile, has aligned himself with the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
“They thought I would follow Peter Obi to ADC, but I had given enough sympathy then,” Baba‑Ahmed said. “Obi does not own me. I own my independence.”
The revelation has reignited debate over the circumstances that shaped the Labour Party’s unexpected rise in 2023 and the nature of one of the most talked‑about political alliances in recent Nigerian history. Observers note that Baba‑Ahmed’s remarks could complicate the narrative of a seamless Obi‑led movement, even as Obi consolidates opposition forces ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com
📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News
🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew
📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments