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Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has revealed that his decision to accept Peter Obi’s running mate offer during the 2023 presidential election was largely driven by sympathy for both Obi and the state of the nation rather than political ambition or ideological alignment. Speaking during an interview with Symfoni, Baba-Ahmed said he felt compelled to support Obi after learning that three other prominent politicians had declined the former Anambra governor’s request to join him on the presidential ticket.
According to Baba-Ahmed, he believed Obi deserved support at a critical moment and viewed his acceptance of the vice-presidential slot as a voluntary sacrifice for Nigeria’s future. He explained that he had always seen himself as someone willing to step forward when the country needed service, adding that he “felt bad for Peter Obi” and even more concerned about Nigeria’s political situation at the time. The former senator stated that he would have been pleased if one of the earlier politicians approached by Obi had accepted the offer, but when they all declined, he decided to step in.
Baba-Ahmed, who recently left the Labour Party for the Peoples Redemption Party, also sought to distance his current political journey from that of his former running mate. He stressed that while he had supported Obi in 2023, the relationship did not mean his political future was permanently tied to the former governor. According to him, “Peter Obi does not own my politics,” insisting that he remains an independent political figure capable of making his own decisions. He further suggested that the internal challenges within the Labour Party were not sufficient justification for Obi’s eventual departure from the platform.
The remarks have sparked fresh discussions about the dynamics behind the 2023 Labour Party ticket and the evolving relationships among opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections. Baba-Ahmed and Obi, who jointly contested the last presidential election, have since pursued separate political paths amid the ongoing realignment of Nigeria’s opposition landscape. Political analysts believe the former vice-presidential candidate’s comments provide a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes negotiations that shaped one of the country’s most closely watched presidential campaigns.
