2027: Obi Free To Contest Without Me – Datti Baba-Ahmed
Datti Baba-Ahmed, Labour Party’s vice presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has thrown his weight behind the potential return of Peter Obi to the 2027 presidential race irrespective of whether he emerged as his running mate. Obi and Baba-Ahmed jointly contested the 2023 presidential election under Labour Party. Their joint ticket however came third in […]
Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed
Datti Baba-Ahmed, Labour Party’s vice presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has thrown his weight behind the potential return of Peter Obi to the 2027 presidential race irrespective of whether he emerged as his running mate.
Obi and Baba-Ahmed jointly contested the 2023 presidential election under Labour Party.
Their joint ticket however came third in the election won by President Bola Tinubu.
As political movements and alignments begin to take shape ahead of 2027, Baba-Ahmed said Obi is free to seek the Labour Party’s nomination again, stressing that his ambition should not be hung on their previous alliance.
“Peter Obi is someone I continue to respect deeply. He’s welcome to return and contest under the Labour Party in 2027 with or without me,” he said while appearing on Channels Television on Wednesday.
The former senator emphasised the urgency of electing leaders with tangible capacity to govern, warning that Nigeria cannot afford another cycle of broken promises.
“We are at a crossroads. Nigerians want results, not regrets. The country deserves leaders who will build, not blame; leaders who will fulfil promises, not deliver disaster,” he said.
On Obi’s recent involvement in the ADC coalition, Baba-Ahmed pushed back against claims of anti-party activity.
“Coalition building is not rebellion. This is how politics works, people, parties, and interest blocs coming together for a shared vision. I have attended some of those meetings myself. There’s nothing illegal or unethical about it.
“This is not an anti-party activity. It is an unfolding situation. The meaning of a coalition is that political parties, interest groups, and individuals are coming together. Peter Obi is welcome to attend those meetings. It’s an unfolding situation aimed at national interest, not personal gain,” he explained.
According to him, conversations across political lines are part of a broader strategy to strengthen democratic alternatives, especially for citizens disillusioned with the status quo.
On the contentious issue of power rotation, Baba-Ahmed said emphatically that the presidency should shift to the South in 2027.
He said his position was not about political calculation but a matter of principle in a diverse nation that thrives on fairness and inclusivity.