Datti Rejects Coalition Call, Questions ADC’s Relevance

Datti Rejects Coalition Call, Questions ADC’s Relevance

Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 vice presidential candidate, has reaffirmed his loyalty to the party, expressing his unwillingness to join the opposition coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Despite mounting pressure to switch camps, Baba-Ahmed said he remains unconvinced by the ADC’s proposition, arguing that the party has yet to demonstrate what sets it apart enough to warrant abandoning the LP.

Speaking on ARISE NEWS Tuesday, he made his stance clear: “The general message is that I am yet to be convinced to leave the Labour Party. I am yet to be convinced.”

His statement comes amid speculation that he may be gravitating toward a coalition that could potentially nominate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate.

“My own thinking was—convince me why I should come into ADC. Where was ADC in 2023 when Labour Party claimed we got 10 million votes?” he asked pointedly.

Throughout the interview, Baba-Ahmed emphasized his ongoing commitment to the LP and reiterated his support for his 2023 running mate, Peter Obi.

“I repeated the welcome that Labour Party’s arms are open to embrace back Peter Obi. I would like him to again win the nomination of Labour Party and contest in 2027, with or without me,” he said.

He also addressed reports suggesting he might be interested in running for president himself in 2027, calling such claims false.

“Some people speak their fears. It is not true. I never said that,” he declared.

“I can tell you Peter Obi, for sure… I’m with him, I’ll support him.”

Baba-Ahmed justified his recent presence at a factional NEC meeting led by Julius Abure as a necessary leadership step to help unify a divided party.

“This is what leadership is about. I’m not a Labour Party leader, but I aspired to a position of leadership. And leaders don’t allow matters to degenerate, to disintegrate, irrespective of which party,” he said.

“There are times that you belong to everybody so long as you are a leader. And remember the doctrine of necessity. This became very, very necessary for me to do.”

Asked whether Obi was aware of his visit to the meeting, he replied,

“He knows everything I do. I do carry him along… I absolutely told him that I was going there.”

On FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s reported ties to Labour Party chairman Julius Abure, which Baba-Ahmed cautiously criticised.

“Whoever captured so easily a country like Nigeria in the way they did… there is nothing else they won’t attempt to do. Between 2023 and 2027, it’s like destroy all the parties,” he warned.

He added pointedly, “Uncontainable is welcome to continue to spend Nigerian resources in destroying Nigerian political parties, using the kind of Wikis… But like Nigerians say, one day the monkey goes to the market and he doesn’t come back.”

Baba-Ahmed also stood by his controversial remarks questioning the timing of President Bola Tinubu’s election declaration, which he previously called suspicious.

“I am holding my head high. And I’m repeating here again… that evils do happen in societies like Nigeria. And Nigerian politics has not been shielded from that.”

He refused to be drawn into a war of words with Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy of Nigeria, Hannatu Musawa, who said he (Baba-Ahmed) made dangerous insinuations based on lies

“Don’t expect me to join issues with this woman. I will not. I have been on a mission to take away her boss’s job. And I will not allow her to distract me.”

Despite ongoing speculation and internal party disputes, Baba-Ahmed insisted his goal is to preserve unity within the Labour Party and remain loyal to its vision.

“They were elated. They are yearning for leadership. And I told them I’m there to do it,” he said of the party’s rank and file.

“While I was there to reconcile, I was also reconciling Labour Party and the general public by the same token.”