The Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has characterised former members of the party who have moved to other political platforms as “political travellers,” insisting that their exit does not diminish the party’s identity or achievements.
Baba-Ahmed made the statement on Wednesday while speaking to supporters at a rally held at the Labour Party’s national headquarters in Abuja. During the gathering, he also dropped strong hints about a possible presidential bid on the party’s platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
His remarks came against the backdrop of the recent defection of the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, to the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress.
Obi formally aligned with the ADC after months of consultations with figures within the opposition coalition, which includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, with whom he ran as vice-presidential candidate under the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 election.
Prior to his departure, Obi had called on his supporters, widely known as Obidients, to pitch their tent with the ADC as part of a broader opposition realignment.
Addressing party faithful in Abuja, Baba-Ahmed appeared to criticise some former party figures who, according to him, were embraced by the Labour Party and handed its presidential ticket in 2022, only to later abandon the platform.
“I had earlier engaged all party members to reconcile, and while some heeded my calls, others took offence and proceeded to defect,” he said.
“No regrets to me for this role, however, as a leader in this party. In this defection case, neither my humble self nor the Labour Party are the aggressors.”
Maintaining that those who left were never permanent fixtures within the party, he described them as temporary actors on a political journey. “A group of political travellers welcomed in 2022 with a presidential ticket continue with their journey. Simple,” Baba-Ahmed added.
He stressed that the Labour Party remains confident and proud of its outing in the last general election, despite operating under difficult circumstances.
“With all humility, Labour Party can flaunt its success. In the presence of financial difficulties, in an era of perfected electoral fraud, the Labour Party produced a state governor, eight senators, about 40 House of Representatives members and about 50 state House of Assembly members,” he said.
Although he acknowledged that a number of those elected on the party’s platform have since defected, Baba-Ahmed said he remains “proud to be associated with real members” of the Labour Party, insisting that its core structure and values remain intact.
What you should know
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed’s comments reflect deepening divisions within Nigeria’s opposition politics following post-election realignments.
The defection of Peter Obi to the ADC has reshaped the opposition landscape, prompting debates over loyalty, ideology and political consistency. Baba-Ahmed’s remarks suggest the Labour Party is positioning itself to move forward independently, even as it reassesses its leadership and future electoral strategy.
His subtle indication of a 2027 presidential ambition signals that the party may seek to rebuild around long-standing members while distancing itself from figures it views as temporary allies.
