Baba-Ahmed: I Joined Peter Obi’s 2023 Ticket Out of Sympathy

Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has revealed that his decision to accept the VP position was based on sympathy for Peter Obi and the situation in Nigeria. He said this was not about sharing the same political views but about compassion.

Baba-Ahmed spoke during an interview with Symfoni, and a video of the chat is going around on social media. He explained that Obi had asked three other well-known politicians to join him, but they all turned him down.

Feeling sorry for both Obi and Nigeria, Baba-Ahmed said he stepped in as a volunteer. He did this for the sake of Nigeria. "They thought I would follow Peter Obi. Now, people don’t understand that between me and Obi, there’s a great deal of sympathy. I have sympathy for him," Baba-Ahmed said.

He added, "When he approached three other major politicians in 2021, they avoided him. I would have been glad if, in 2022, one of them went with Peter Obi. But they all avoided him. I felt bad for him. I felt bad for Nigeria as a nation… I took it upon myself because, naturally, I’ve always been a volunteer for the sake of Nigeria. I extended that sympathy."

Baba-Ahmed, who left the Labour Party to join the Peoples Redemption Party in May 2026, used the interview to make it clear that he is different from his former running mate. He pointed out that his support for Obi has limits and that Obi does not dictate his political future.

"They thought I would follow Peter Obi. But I had given enough sympathy there… With due respect, he does not own my politics. He does not own me. I am independent," he said.

Like Baba-Ahmed, Obi also switched parties, first moving to the ADC and then to the NDC. When he left the Labour Party, the former Anambra governor mentioned internal issues within the party as his reason.

But Baba-Ahmed argued that those internal issues are not enough reason for Obi to leave. "I mean, if (Julius) Aburi was a problem, what makes him think the David Mark of ADC will not be a problem?"

He continued, "What makes him think the chairman of Seriake (Senator Seriake Dickson) of NDC will not be a problem? So it’s the same thing wherever you go. Stay here and fix this problem. Now, let’s work together."

Baba-Ahmed concluded by saying, "And he decided to move. Now, with due respect, he does not own my politics. He does not own me. I am independent."