Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s running mate in the 2023 election, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has explained his decision to part ways with the former Anambra State governor ahead of the 2027 general election.
Datti said he left Obi because he believed the former governor had not developed a clear and convincing plan for governing Nigeria.
Speaking in an interview with Symfoni TV, the former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate said he had worked extensively to support Obi during the 2023 presidential campaign but eventually decided to go his separate way.
According to Datti, his decision was not the result of Obi abandoning him. Rather, he said he personally chose to leave after repeatedly telling the former governor that he needed to present a clear plan for the country.
Datti maintained that despite their political differences, he still respects Obi and continues to stand by some of the principles they shared during the 2023 election.
He, however, expressed disappointment with some of Obi’s subsequent political decisions, stressing that the former governor was entitled to make his own choices.
The former vice-presidential candidate also explained that he would not automatically support either Obi or former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar simply because they are opposition figures.
Datti said he would rather make political decisions based on what he considers fair and beneficial to Nigeria instead of supporting a candidate without a compelling reason.
His comments come as political alignments continue to shift ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with former allies and members of the opposition camp taking different positions on the emerging political landscape.
Obi is currently preparing to contest the 2027 presidential election under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), while Datti has taken a different political path.
The latest remarks are expected to generate further discussion about the relationship between the two men, who jointly contested the 2023 presidential election on the Labour Party platform.
Datti’s comments also highlight the continuing divisions within Nigeria’s opposition as political parties and prominent figures position themselves ahead of the 2027 contest.
