Former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, says Peter Obi’s decision to leave the party in the middle of its internal crisis was “not a great leadership move,” while also casting doubt on the political viability of a potential alliance between Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Obi, the LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, and Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State, recently joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) on Sunday, a move that has continued to reshape opposition realignments ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking to journalists on Monday after his own defection to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Baba-Ahmed said his comments were personal opinions, stressing that he still maintained cordial relationships with both politicians.
“As much as possible, I try to avoid names of anybody at this stage or the politics of everyone. But it is very unlikely that the north will rally around Obi and Kwankwaso,” he said.
He revealed that he had earlier advised Obi to reach out to Kwankwaso and other opposition figures as part of early preparations for the 2027 elections.
“I did say that I feel guilty because I was the one who told Peter Obi on the 31st of January 2024 in John Woods hotel, after asking him a few things, and I told him, ‘Your Excellency, from this point there is Kwankwaso, there is el-Rufai, there’s another person I would like to suggest you to approach them,’” he said.
According to him, the suggestion was part of a broader strategic plan, but he questioned whether the emerging alignment could hold politically.
“If in 2024 you cannot plan 2027, I’m sorry, I cannot continue to be with you,” he said.
“So they are going together now with Kwankwaso, it’s my idea. Do you understand? Will it work? I think it’s a big question. We’ll wait and see.”
Baba-Ahmed also raised questions about Kwankwaso’s political posture in relation to Obi during the 2023 elections.
“However, remember, why didn’t Kwankwaso support Peter Obi in 2022/23. What changed between 2022 and 23?” he asked.
He argued that leadership dynamics and ambition could complicate any joint ticket between both men.
“You have a vice-president that is older than you, first of all in age, in education, in political profile, in so many other things,” he said.
“This is somebody with a burning ambition and temperament, who is going to be the president, actually? If you are presenting a ticket, throughout history, there’s a certain configuration that it goes.”
He further suggested that expectations around power rotation within such a partnership could generate internal tensions.
“And then the intricacies of, all right, ‘certainly 2031 is mine’. That doesn’t play out well in any political contest,” he warned.
On Obi’s political choices, Baba-Ahmed said the former Anambra governor should have remained in the Labour Party to resolve its internal challenges.
“Someone who got Labour Party ticket so easily, should have stayed to fix the problems of Labour Party however difficult they were,” he said.
He added that he had previously encouraged reconciliation within the party but was disappointed by Obi’s approach to political disagreements.
“I stood and I earned the wrath of many because I said ‘come and reconcile’ in Labour Party. Only for me to hear, to read it, and to even view it in the news. Here’s my former leader, my boss who I believe in, saying wherever there is a quarrel, he will walk away. So, there is a quarrel in Nigeria, you will walk away? These are things that don’t add up,” he said.
Boluwatife Enome
