Peter Obi’s former running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has strongly advised the former Anambra State governor not to accept the role of vice-presidential candidate in the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, emphasizing that Obi deserves the presidential ticket instead.
Speaking passionately during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Thursday, Baba-Ahmed argued that Obi’s remarkable performance in the 2023 presidential election demonstrated that he should not settle for anything less than leading the coalition as its presidential candidate.
According to Baba-Ahmed, the top contenders for the ADC coalition's presidential ticket include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and Peter Obi. However, he firmly insisted that Obi should not play second fiddle or accept a subordinate position to any candidate, given his proven popularity and electoral strength.
“The position of VP is very big. Anyway, I wanted to be, and I was rigged out. But I think Peter Obi should not be a VP, having gotten a disputed 10 million votes,” he declared, referencing Obi’s substantial support base during the last election cycle.
Baba-Ahmed also dismissed the prevailing notion that only a grand opposition coalition can successfully challenge and unseat President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming 2027 elections. Instead, he pointed to the Labour Party’s strong performance in 2023, which was achieved without merging with other parties, as evidence that the opposition can stand independently and still achieve significant results.
“It’s all about a narrative that was sold to Nigerians very quickly, that to defeat Tinubu, it has to be a coalition. Coalition is good, but in 2023 we defeated APC, PDP. There was no coalition in Labour Party,” Baba-Ahmed argued, emphasizing the potential for grassroots power and voter mobilization.
He further explained that the real focus should be on building robust support at the ballot box and protecting votes at every stage of the electoral process, rather than relying solely on elite political alliances or mergers.
“The real coalition we need is at the ballot box. The real coalition is of votes at the ballot box. You protect them all the way to declaration,” he stressed, underlining the importance of electoral integrity and voter protection over behind-the-scenes political deals.
Meanwhile, following the official unveiling of the ADC coalition on Wednesday, Peter Obi announced his defection to the party, signaling a major shift in Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of 2027.
Despite his involvement in the coalition’s meetings, Baba-Ahmed clarified that he remains a loyal and active member of the Labour Party, reaffirming his commitment to the party’s ideals and independent strategy moving forward.