‘Peter Obi Does Not Own Me, I Am Independent’ – Datti Baba-Ahmed

Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has explained that he is an independent politician who has his own principles and convictions.

Baba-Ahmed, who spoke on the Naija Unfiltered podcast, declared that his choices are not based on the political decisions of the party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Naija News reports that he made the submission while explaining his decision not to defect with Obi to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), but instead, joined the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

According to him, he believed the internal crisis within the Labour Party should have been resolved rather than abandoned.

“They thought I would follow Peter Obi, but I had given enough sympathy then and I thought as a leader, what he should do then is to solve the problem out,” he said.

The former senator argued that leaving one political platform because of internal disagreements only to join another party is not the solution, as any party could face challenges in the future.

“If Abure was a problem, what makes him think the Nwosu or the David Mark of the ADC will not be a problem? What makes him think the chairman of Seriake’s party, NDC, will not be a problem? It’s the same thing wherever you go. Stay here and fix the problem; let’s work together, and he decided to move,” Baba-Ahmed stated.

The former Vice Presidential candidate clarified that his decisions are fully his own, and not in any way tied to the political movements of Obi.

“With due respect, Peter Obi does not own my politics, he does not own me. I am independent,” he said.

He, however, clarified that Obi is well aware of his decisions and why he took them.

“And I said, alright sir. I have different reasons for joining you. If you want to move, go ahead. I gave my cogent and logical reason for not joining the ADC, all of which have come through,” he added.

Naija News reports that as political alignments continue ahead of the 2027 elections, Baba-Ahmed has pitched his tent with the PRP, and Peter Obi has moved on to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where he has since emerged as the party’s 2027 presidential candidate.