Former Labour Party (LP) presidential running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has revealed why he parted ways with Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi. He insisted that his decision was informed by Obi’s lack of a clear plan for Nigeria.
Datti served as Obi’s running mate during the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party platform. Following the election, Obi defected first to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) before eventually moving to the NDC.
However, Datti said he would not unnecessarily throw his weight behind either the ADC’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, or Obi. He stressed that doing so would amount to disadvantaging President Bola Tinubu without justifiable reason.
Speaking in an interview on Symfoni TV, Datti explained his position in detail.
“I won’t unfairly help promote Baba Atiku and Peter Obi and others just for no good reason because we need to be fair in life, and that’s what I stand for,” he said.
He further disclosed that his decision to step away from Obi’s camp was not born out of personal conflict but rather what he described as a lack of strategic direction on Obi’s part.
“I worked really hard for Peter Obi, but his team doesn’t remember things very well. I let Peter Obi know that he needs to come up with a plan since he doesn’t have one yet,” Datti said.
He maintained that despite the fallout, his loyalty to Obi’s political journey remains intact. He described the current situation as unfortunate but ultimately Obi’s personal choice.
“Peter Obi didn’t abandon me; I left because he doesn’t have a plan for Nigeria. Peter Obi knows I stood for him. I still stand by him. It’s sad to see the moves he made. But it is his choice,” he added.
As of the time of this report, Obi’s camp is yet to respond publicly to Datti’s remarks. It remains unclear whether the former running mates will reconcile politically ahead of future elections.
The Fallout Between Datti Baba-Ahmed and Peter Obi: The Journey From 2023 Ticket to Political Divide
Datti Baba-Ahmed and Peter Obi’s political partnership during the 2023 presidential election was widely regarded as one of the most dynamic pairings in that election cycle, drawing significant support, particularly among Nigeria’s youth population under the “Obidient” movement.
However, the aftermath of the election saw both political figures take divergent paths, with Obi’s subsequent defections from the Labour Party to the ADC and later the NDC. This raised questions about the future of their political alliance.
Datti’s latest comments shed further light on the widening rift between the duo, as Nigeria’s political landscape continues to witness realignments ahead of future electoral contests.
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