Three unnamed politicians reportedly turned down an offer to run as Peter Obi’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election.
This was disclosed by former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.
Baba-Ahmed said this was part of the reason he later agreed to join Obi on the Labour Party ticket, explaining that he felt sympathy for the former Anambra State governor after the alleged refusals.
He said Obi made attempts in 2022 to bring three well-known political figures on board, but they did not agree to work with him.
He did not give their names or explain the details behind their decisions.
According to him, the development affected him emotionally and also made him think about the wider situation in the country, which pushed him to support Obi’s presidential bid.
Baba-Ahmed added that his decision to run with Obi was personal and based on his own judgement at the time, not because he was tied to Obi’s political circle.
He also dismissed the idea that he must follow Obi into any future political platform, including the African Democratic Congress, saying his support in 2023 did not remove his independence.
He maintained that Obi does not control his political choices and that his involvement in the Labour Party ticket was voluntary.
