Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 vice presidential candidate, has thrown his weight behind Peter Obi as a top contender for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition’s presidential ticket in the 2027 elections. Speaking on Thursday, Baba-Ahmed insisted that Obi, former governor of Anambra State, should not accept a vice presidential position, citing his impressive performance in the last election, where he allegedly garnered around 10 million votes amid controversy.
Baba-Ahmed listed Obi, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi as key figures vying for the ADC’s presidential nomination. “The vice presidential role is significant, but Peter Obi should not settle for it,”he said, highlighting Obi’s electoral appeal. Baba-Ahmed, who claimed his 2023 VP bid was undermined by irregularities, stressed that Obi is better suited to lead the coalition.
He also challenged the belief that only a united opposition can unseat President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), pointing to the Labour Party’s 2023 performance, where it allegedly outperformed both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) without a formal alliance. “There’s this narrative that defeating Tinubu requires a coalition, but in 2023, we defeated both major parties without one,”* he argued.
Instead of political mergers, Baba-Ahmed advocated for a voter-driven coalition at the polls. “The real coalition is the votes cast and protected until results are declared,” he stated, dismissing the notion that opposition unity is the sole path to victory.
While Obi recently joined the ADC coalition after its official launch on Wednesday, Baba-Ahmed clarified that he remains with the Labour Party, despite participating in the coalition’s meetings. The ADC alliance, led by former Senate President David Mark as interim chairman, aims to present a strong challenge to the APC in the 2027 elections.
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