No one owns me; I am an independent politician — Datti Baba-Ahmed knocks Obi

Former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has defended his decision to leave the party for the Peoples Redemption Party, insisting that his political choices remain independent of former presidential candidate Peter Obi.

Baba-Ahmed, who ran alongside Obi under the Labour Party platform in the 2023 general elections, said his refusal to follow Obi into a broader opposition coalition was driven by principle and a belief that internal party disputes should be resolved rather than abandoned.

Speaking on the Naija Unfiltered podcast, he said many people expected him to automatically align with Obi’s new political direction, but he chose otherwise after careful consideration of the Labour Party’s internal challenges.

“They thought I would follow Peter Obi, but I had given enough sympathy then and I thought as a leader, what he should do then is to solve the problem out,” he said.

He questioned the logic of abandoning one political structure due to internal crises only to join another that could face similar instability.

“If Abure was a problem, what makes him think the Nwosu or the David Mark of the ADC will not be a problem? … It’s the same thing wherever you go. Stay here and fix the problem,” he added.

Baba-Ahmed also stressed his independence within Nigeria’s evolving opposition landscape, stating clearly that his political identity is not tied to Obi.

“With due respect, Peter Obi does not own my politics, he does not own me. I am independent,” he said.

He further explained that his decision not to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was based on personal conviction and political reasoning, which he said he had communicated directly to Obi.

Baba-Ahmed’s exit comes amid continued restructuring within opposition parties as political figures reposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

His move to the PRP further highlights widening differences within the opposition bloc that emerged strongly in 2023, particularly over strategy, leadership structure, and coalition politics.

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