Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has revealed that sympathy for Peter Obi was a key reason he agreed to become his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking during an interview with Symfoni, Baba-Ahmed said Obi approached three influential politicians in 2022 in an effort to build alliances ahead of the election, but none agreed to join him. He said he was disappointed by their response and felt compelled to support Obi’s presidential ambition.
According to him, many people misunderstand the nature of his relationship with Obi, noting that his decision to run alongside the former Anambra State governor was driven largely by concern for both Obi and the country’s political future.
Baba-Ahmed declined to identify the politicians involved or explain why they chose not to align with Obi at the time.
He also dismissed claims that he is politically bound to follow Obi into any future platform, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stressing that he remains an independent political actor.
The former senator maintained that supporting Obi in 2023 was a personal decision made in what he believed was Nigeria’s best interest, adding that Obi does not determine his political choices or future affiliations.
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