Former Labor Party vice-presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed says his decision to run alongside Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election was largely influenced by sympathy, following what he described as the refusal of three prominent politicians to team up with the former Anambra State governor.
In an interview with Symfoni monitored by The News Chronicle, Baba-Ahmed said many people had misunderstood his relationship with Obi, stressing that his involvement in the ticket was driven more by personal conviction and empathy than political obligation.
He disclosed that Obi had reached out to three major political figures in 2022 to build alliances, but none agreed to work with him.
According to him, the development left him disappointed, adding that he felt compelled to support Obi’s presidential ambition, which he believed deserved backing.
Baba-Ahmed, however, refused to name the politicians involved or explain why they allegedly declined Obi’s offer.
He also rejected suggestions that he is politically tied to Obi or would automatically follow him into any future political arrangement, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He maintained that while he supported Obi’s 2023 presidential bid, his decision was voluntary and does not translate into loyalty to any individual or political platform.
“People thought I would follow Peter Obi. They don’t understand the nature of our relationship. I have a great deal of sympathy for him, and that sympathy was at the core of our relationship.
“When he, Peter Obi, approached three major politicians in 2022, they all avoided him. I would have been glad if one of them had gone with him. I felt bad for him and for Nigeria as a nation. You and I know the reason, and I don’t have to say it now.
“I took it upon myself because I have always been a volunteer for Nigeria.
“They thought I would follow Peter Obi to ADC, but I had given enough sympathy then. Obi does not own me. I own my independence.” He said
