Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed has ruled out the possibility of any of the politicians contesting against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election improving Nigeria.
He didn’t exclude his former running mate, Peter Obi, from this category.
Baba-Ahmed spoke in an interview on the Mic On Podcast, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye posted on Saturday.
The politician was responding to a question on what advice he would give Tinubu about his leadership of the country.
Baba-Ahmed said the President should prepare to leave office, but shouldn’t hand over to any of those currently challenging him.
“I will simply advise uncle (Tinubu) to please prepare to hand over and move away, but not to the people contesting against him because none of them will improve Nigeria,” he said.
Asked to clarify whether he was referring to all the opposition candidates, Baba-Ahmed said, “None of that part. Tinubu should leave the stage. All those people contesting against him, too—they were all in bed together at some point or another.”
When the host asked whether he was referring to Peter Obi, Baba-Ahmed replied, “Including Peter Obi, I’m sorry to say.”
According to Baba-Ahmed, Obi had previously been a member of the Peoples Democratic Party when it was in power, arguing that he was calling for “a whole new Nigeria”.
“Tell me one politician who has never been in a ruling party. Tell me,” he said.
When Okinbaloye pointed out that Baba-Ahmed had also been involved in politics and had served in the National Assembly, the former lawmaker said he had never belonged to a ruling party.
“I have never been in a ruling party. While I was in CPC, CPC was the leading opposition party, even above ANPP then. When they merged with APC and came to power, you have my letter of resignation from the then, uh, APC because… even though I was, because I have never had a card, a membership card of APC. Never. I never had a membership card of APC,” he said.
He said his criticism was not based solely on party affiliation, but on what he described as the political history of those seeking to challenge Tinubu.
Baba-Ahmed and Obi were the Labour Party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates, respectively, in the 2023 elections.
He subsequently left Labour Party for Peoples Redemption Party.
At the same time, Obi defected to the African Democratic Congress before joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress, which picked him its presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.
