No Rift Between Me and Peter Obi – Datti Baba-Ahmed Clears the Air Amid Labour Party Crisis

Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s vice presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, has firmly dismissed any speculations of discord between him and the party’s presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi. Baba-Ahmed made this clarification during his attendance at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party, held on Monday in Abuja.

According to a report by the Daily Post, the Labour Party has recently been entangled in deep-seated internal turmoil, leading to a clear division within its ranks. The party is currently polarized between two factions: one under the leadership of Julius Abure and the other steered by the interim Chairman, Nenadi Usman.

The majority of party stakeholders, including prominent figures, argue that Julius Abure’s tenure as the national chairman has come to a lawful end. This view was reinforced by a court ruling, which explicitly directed Abure to desist from identifying or parading himself as the national chairman of the Labour Party.

In line with this judicial directive, leading members of the Labour Party such as Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, the presidential candidate Peter Obi, Datti Baba-Ahmed himself, along with elected lawmakers representing the party, have consistently shown their allegiance to the Nenadi Usman-led faction.

Despite his presence at the NEC meeting convened by the Abure faction, Baba-Ahmed clarified his mission, stating that his appearance was purely in the interest of peace-building within the party. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the meeting, he emphasized that Peter Obi remains a bona fide member of the Labour Party, dismissing rumors suggesting otherwise.

“I have attended the meeting and paid attention to the coalition dialogues. Yes, I still retain my membership in the Labour Party,” Baba-Ahmed asserted.

He further stressed that Peter Obi, who is his principal, is equally committed to the Labour Party. While both leaders have participated in coalition discussions with other political entities, Baba-Ahmed pointed out that such coalitions do not equate to party membership shifts.

“To the best of our knowledge, His Excellency Peter Obi, my leader, remains with the Labour Party. Like myself, he was involved in the coalition talks. However, participating in a coalition does not automatically signify joining another party like the ADC. There is no foundation for such claims,” he explained.

Addressing speculations about a fallout between him and Peter Obi, Baba-Ahmed categorically stated that such a scenario is beyond the realm of possibility.

“There is absolutely no crack between Peter Obi and me. In fact, imagining a rift between us is more difficult than cracking the entire APC structure,” Baba-Ahmed declared humorously but firmly.

This declaration comes at a critical time when the Labour Party is battling internal divisions that threaten its cohesion and public image. Baba-Ahmed’s reassurances are aimed at calming tensions and projecting unity at the top leadership level of the party.