Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed has disclosed that sympathy for both Peter Obi and Nigeria’s political situation played a major role in his decision to become Obi’s running mate during the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking in an interview with media platform Symfoni, Baba-Ahmed said Obi struggled to secure a running mate before the election after approaching several prominent politicians who declined to join his presidential bid.
According to him, he was disappointed by the reluctance of other political figures to align with Obi and felt compelled to step forward in what he described as a voluntary effort to serve the country’s interests.
“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,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He explained that Obi had reportedly approached three major politicians in 2022, but none accepted the offer to run alongside him. The development, he said, left him concerned about the future of the country and motivated him to support the former Anambra State governor.
“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,” he stated.
Baba-Ahmed described himself as someone who has always volunteered for causes he believes in, adding that his decision to join Obi’s ticket was driven by a desire to contribute to national progress.
The former senator also took issue with Obi’s decision to leave the Labour Party amid its leadership crisis. He argued that political disputes are common across parties and should be resolved internally rather than abandoned.
Before his departure from the Labour Party, Obi had a prolonged disagreement with factional party chairman Julius Abure. The dispute eventually contributed to his exit from the party and subsequent political realignments.
On March 7, Obi officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as part of a broader opposition coalition. However, on May 3, he and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso left the ADC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), citing concerns about the party’s future direction.
Questioning Obi’s decision to move from one party to another, Baba-Ahmed argued that leadership disagreements can emerge in any political organization.
“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.
He stressed that his political identity remains separate from Obi’s, noting that their partnership during the 2023 election did not make him politically dependent on the former Labour Party presidential candidate.
“With due respect, he does not own my politics; he doesn’t own me. I am independent,” Baba-Ahmed said.
Following his exit from the Labour Party, Baba-Ahmed has aligned himself with the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), where he continues his political activities ahead of future elections.
