By Deborah Nnamdi
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, running mate to Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election, has asserted that the former Anambra State governor is fully deserving of the presidential ticket of the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition.
Speaking during an interview on Prime Time with Arise Television on Thursday, Baba-Ahmed argued that Obi’s performance in the last election—where he garnered around 10 million votes, though contested—qualifies him to lead the coalition as its presidential flag bearer in 2027, not as a running mate.
“Being Vice President is no small role—I aspired to it myself—but Peter Obi shouldn’t accept that position after what he achieved in 2023,” he said. “He got nearly 10 million votes in a disputed election. That should not be overlooked.”
Baba-Ahmed identified Obi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi as the leading contenders for the coalition’s 2027 presidential ticket. Still, he was firm in his belief that Obi should not play second fiddle.
Despite the buzz around a united opposition front, Baba-Ahmed dismissed the idea that only a political coalition can defeat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“In 2023, the Labour Party, without any coalition, beat both APC and PDP—at least by our calculations,” he said. “So this idea that only a coalition can defeat Tinubu is just a narrative.”
According to him, the real coalition Nigeria needs is not between politicians but among voters.
“The only coalition that matters is the one at the ballot box. It’s about protecting the votes and ensuring they count to the final declaration,” he stated.
While Peter Obi has since aligned with the ADC coalition, Baba-Ahmed, who also participated in its meetings and public unveiling on Wednesday, said he remains a committed member of the Labour Party.
