Former Labour Party presidential running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has explained his decision to part ways politically with Peter Obi, saying he left because he believed the former Anambra State governor had no clear plan for Nigeria.
Baba-Ahmed, who was Obi’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election, made the remarks as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections. Reports on Monday quoted him as saying that Obi did not abandon him, but that he was the one who decided to leave.
“Peter Obi did not drop me. I left him because he doesn’t have a plan for Nigeria,” Baba-Ahmed was reported to have said.
The statement is significant because Baba-Ahmed and Obi were prominent figures in the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign, which attracted substantial support, particularly among young Nigerians. Their political separation has therefore continued to draw attention as the country moves towards another presidential election.
Baba-Ahmed’s comments also come against the backdrop of major political realignments ahead of 2027. Obi has since moved into the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where he is the party’s presidential candidate, while Baba-Ahmed has taken a different political position. Recent reports indicate that Baba-Ahmed has also spoken about the need for political leaders to present credible alternatives to Nigerians.
The former vice-presidential candidate’s criticism is expected to generate debate among supporters of Obi and other political blocs, particularly over questions surrounding policy direction, leadership and Nigeria’s development priorities.
However, the claim remains Baba-Ahmed’s assessment and does not establish, by itself, whether Obi lacks a governing plan. Obi and his political supporters have previously outlined economic, security and institutional reform priorities.
The development highlights the continuing realignment of Nigeria’s opposition politics ahead of the 2027 elections, with former allies increasingly taking different positions as political parties prepare for the contest.
