2027: Why I parted ways with Peter Obi – Datti

By Jude

Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi’s running mate in the 2023 election, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has explained his decision to part ways with the former Anambra State governor, saying Obi failed to present a clear plan for Nigeria.

Datti, who was Obi’s vice-presidential candidate under the LP in the 2023 presidential election, said his decision was not prompted by any personal disagreement but by his concerns about the direction of Obi’s political project.

Obi later left the Labour Party and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) before subsequently moving to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where he is now the presidential candidate.

Speaking during an interview on Symfoni TV, monitored in Abuja, Datti said he was unwilling to support political choices he considered unjustified, particularly where he believed there was no sufficiently clear programme for governing the country.

“I won’t unfairly help promote Baba Atiku and Peter Obi and others just for no good reason because we need to be fair in life, and that’s what I stand for,” he said.

Datti recalled his commitment to Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign, stressing that he worked extensively to support the former governor’s bid for the presidency.

However, he said he eventually advised Obi to develop a comprehensive plan for Nigeria before seeking further political support.

“I worked really hard for Peter Obi, but his team doesn’t remember things very well. I let Peter Obi know that he needs to come up with a plan since he doesn’t have one yet,” he said.

The former LP vice-presidential candidate also rejected the suggestion that Obi abandoned him, explaining that he was the one who chose to leave because of his reservations about Obi’s policy direction.

“Peter Obi didn’t abandon me; I left because he doesn’t have a plan for Nigeria,” Datti stated.

Despite his criticism, Datti said he still holds Obi in high regard and acknowledged his own role in supporting the former governor during the 2023 election.

“Peter Obi knows I stood for him. I still stand by him. It’s sad to see the moves he made. But it is his choice,” he added.

Datti’s comments come as political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with former allies of the 2023 Labour Party presidential campaign taking different positions over the emerging political alliances and presidential contenders.