ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has openly criticised Peter Obi’s handling of party crises, describing his exit from the party as a poor reflection of leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Baba-Ahmed, who ran alongside Obi in the 2023 presidential race, also expressed strong doubts that northern voters would rally behind a proposed political alliance between Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Speaking to journalists on Monday after defecting to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), he maintained that his views were personal, stressing that he still holds both Obi and Kwankwaso in high regard despite his criticisms.
The former lawmaker revealed that he had earlier advised Obi to engage key opposition figures, including Kwankwaso and others, as part of early strategic planning for the 2027 elections, noting that the current alliance discussions were partly influenced by his suggestions.
“As much as possible, I try to avoid mentioning names at this stage, but it is very unlikely that the North will rally around Obi and Kwankwaso,” he said.
Providing insight into his earlier political calculations, Baba-Ahmed disclosed that he had urged Obi as far back as January 31, 2024, during a meeting at John Woods Hotel, to reach out to influential northern politicians, including Kwankwaso and former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai.
According to him, long-term political planning is essential, adding that failure to prepare adequately for 2027 would undermine any serious ambition.
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“The business I do now started in 2011, but I began planning it in 1996. If in 2024 you cannot plan for 2027, then I cannot continue with you,” he stated.
While acknowledging that Obi and Kwankwaso are now moving together politically, Baba-Ahmed questioned the viability of such an alliance, describing its success as uncertain.
“So they are going together now, it was my idea. Will it work? That is a big question. We will wait and see,” he added.
He further raised concerns over the political history between both men, questioning why Kwankwaso did not support Obi during the 2023 elections and what had fundamentally changed to justify the new alignment.
“Why didn’t Kwankwaso support Obi in 2022/2023? What has changed now?” he queried.
Baba-Ahmed also hinted at a possible leadership struggle within the alliance, pointing out differences in political stature, experience, and profile between the two figures.
“You have a vice-president who is older in age, education, and political exposure. So who becomes president?” he asked.
On Obi’s earlier departure from the Labour Party, Baba-Ahmed insisted the former Anambra governor should have remained within the party to resolve its internal disputes instead of walking away.
According to him, leadership demands resilience and the willingness to confront challenges head-on, rather than avoiding conflict.
“Someone who got the Labour Party ticket so easily should have stayed to fix its problems, however difficult,” he said.
He recalled his own efforts to push for reconciliation within the party, expressing disappointment at Obi’s reported stance of distancing himself from conflicts.
“I stood my ground and faced backlash because I said, ‘Come and reconcile.’ Then I heard my former leader say wherever there is a quarrel, he will walk away. So there is a quarrel in Nigeria will you walk away too?” he asked.
Emphasising the demands of political leadership, Baba-Ahmed described Nigerian politics as a “contact sport” that requires firmness, courage, and the readiness to engage opposing views.
“A leader must be firm. However gentle you are, you must be ready to fight. If you are not ready to fight, then stay at home. Politics in Nigeria is not for the faint-hearted,” he added.