Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the 2023 vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has dismissed mounting speculation that he is preparing to leave the party to join a broader opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Baba-Ahmed stated categorically, “The general message is that I am yet to be convinced to leave Labour Party. I am yet to be convinced.”
His response followed the speculation that he might be aligning himself with a proposed coalition that could potentially anoint former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its flag bearer.
“No. My own thinking was, convince me why I should come into ADC. Where was ADC in 2023 when Labour Party claimed we got 10 million votes?” he asked.
Baba-Ahmed used the interview to reinforce his commitment to the Labour Party and support for his 2023 presidential running mate, Peter Obi.
“I repeated the welcome that Labour Party’s arms are open to embrace back Peter Obi. I would like him to again win the nomination of Labour Party and contest in 2027, with or without me,” he said.
He also addressed reports suggesting he might be interested in running for president himself in 2027, calling such claims false.
“Some people speak their fears. It is not true. I never said that,” he declared.
“I can tell you Peter Obi, for sure… I’m with him, I’ll support him.”
Baba-Ahmed justified his recent presence at a factional NEC meeting led by Julius Abure as a necessary leadership step to help unify a divided party.
“This is what leadership is about. I’m not a Labour Party leader, but I aspired to a position of leadership. And leaders don’t allow matters to degenerate, to disintegrate, irrespective of which party,” he said.
“There are times that you belong to everybody so long as you are a leader. And remember the doctrine of necessity. This became very, very necessary for me to do.”
Asked whether Obi was aware of his visit to the meeting, he replied,
“He knows everything I do. I do carry him along… I absolutely told him that I was going there.”
On FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s reported ties to Labour Party chairman Julius Abure, which Baba-Ahmed cautiously criticised.
“Whoever captured so easily a country like Nigeria in the way they did… there is nothing else they won’t attempt to do. Between 2023 and 2027, it’s like destroy all the parties,” he warned.
He added pointedly, “Uncontainable is welcome to continue to spend Nigerian resources in destroying Nigerian political parties, using the kind of Wikis… But like Nigerians say, one day the monkey goes to the market and he doesn’t come back.”
Baba-Ahmed also stood by his controversial remarks questioning the timing of President Bola Tinubu’s election declaration, which he previously called suspicious.
“I am holding my head high. And I’m repeating here again… that evils do happen in societies like Nigeria. And Nigerian politics has not been shielded from that.”
He refused to be drawn into a war of words with Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy of Nigeria, Hannatu Musawa, who said he (Baba-Ahmed) made dangerous insinuations based on lies
“Don’t expect me to join issues with this woman. I will not. I have been on a mission to take away her boss’s job. And I will not allow her to distract me.”
Despite ongoing speculation and internal party disputes, Baba-Ahmed insisted his goal is to preserve unity within the Labour Party and remain loyal to its vision.
“They were elated. They are yearning for leadership. And I told them I’m there to do it,” he said of the party’s rank and file.
“While I was there to reconcile, I was also reconciling Labour Party and the general public by the same token.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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