Datti Baba-Ahmed says he will not disadvantage President Bola Tinubu to promote Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar in 2027. The 2023 Labour Party vice-presidential candidate also insists that Obi did not drop him. He made the remarks on the Naija Unfiltered podcast, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye. Several outlets reported the interview in September.
Baba-Ahmed said fairness drives his position. He called Tinubu “Uncle” while he explained it. According to him, he does not want to unduly weaken the major contender. Therefore, he said he will not push the Atiku ticket or the Obi ticket against the Tinubu-Shettima ticket. He added that he is not on any of those tickets.
Baba-Ahmed’s position at a glance
| Speaker | Datti Baba-Ahmed, 2023 LP vice-presidential candidate |
| Platform | Naija Unfiltered podcast |
| On Tinubu | Will not disadvantage him to promote others |
| On Obi | “He didn’t drop me”; still stands by him |
| On Atiku | Expresses deep respect |
| Obi’s reply | None found to this latest clarification |
The host repeatedly asked whether his earlier remark about capacity covered Obi, his former running mate. Baba-Ahmed said yes, including Obi. However, he said it was not a withdrawal of support. He said he still stands by Obi. He also called some of Obi’s recent moves regrettable, but he said they were Obi’s choice.
Baba-Ahmed rejected claims that Obi dropped him. He said he warned Obi on 31 January 2024 that he needed a clear plan. At that time, he said, he had not heard one. Moreover, he said no one has denied that account. He added that their relationship remains solid. According to him, he could call Obi and get an answer by the second or third ring.
On Atiku, he voiced strong respect. He described the former vice-president as a father figure. In addition, he said his comments were not meant to undermine Atiku.
Baba-Ahmed also said Obi should not have reacted publicly. He noted that APC figures and Atiku did not react to his comments. In the same way, he said Obi should have asked his supporters to slow down. Then, he said, both men could have found a way to talk.
Sojworldnews could not find a fresh response from Obi to these clarifications. We will update this report if he replies. This article presents Baba-Ahmed’s account and does not establish any claim as fact.
Leave a Reply