Nifemi Babasanmi
The Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has said Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, remains welcome to return to the party if he fails to secure the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket.
Baba-Ahmed made the comment on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief while clarifying that he has not declared any intention to contest the presidency and urging Obi to formally confirm his political status.
“I also said if Peter Obi does not get the ticket there in ADC, he is more than welcome back to the Labour Party. I will stand there and nobody will do anything bad to Peter Obi. It is better for him to come back than for him to do another type of agenda,” he said.
He faulted reports suggesting he had announced a presidential ambition.
“I never declared to contest the presidency even though there could be a possibility of that happening. I certainly did not declare for the presidency. I simply reiterated my membership of the Labour Party,” he said.
He explained that any move towards seeking elective office must follow due process, stressing the need to wait for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable and the party’s internal decisions.
“That is all, and in the submissions I made, I clearly stated that one will have to wait for the INEC timetable and for the party to make the call for people to indicate their interest,” Baba-Ahmed added, blaming social media sensationalism for spreading false narratives.
His remarks come amid recent political developments involving Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, who has aligned with the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Baba-Ahmed also urged Obi to formally clarify his political status, noting that he had not publicly announced his defection from the Labour Party.
“I never heard him say defecting to ADC. I did not hear that, maybe I missed it, but please find out if he said joining the coalition or joining the ADC,” he said, adding that Obi should submit his resignation letter and membership card to the Labour Party if he has indeed left the party.
