North unlikely to back Obi-Kwankwaso alliance for 2027, says ex-Labour Party VP candidate Baba-Ahmed

Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed has cast doubt on the prospect of northern Nigeria rallying behind a political alliance between Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Baba-Ahmed, who ran as Obi’s running mate in the 2023 polls, also criticized Obi’s decision to leave the Labour Party amid its internal leadership crisis, arguing that the former Anambra governor should have stayed to help resolve the party’s problems.

Obi and Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, recently left the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to join the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) as part of ongoing opposition realignments.

Speaking to journalists, Baba-Ahmed maintained that he still has good relationships with both politicians.

He revealed that he had previously advised Obi to engage Kwankwaso and other opposition leaders in preparation for 2027, adding that the recent collaboration between the two former governors was originally his suggestion.

“As much as possible, I try to avoid mentioning names at this stage or engaging in anyone’s politics. But it is very unlikely that the North will rally around Obi and Kwankwaso,” he said.

He recounted: “I did say that I feel guilty because I was the one who told Peter Obi on 31 January 2024 at John Woods Hotel. After asking him a few questions, I told him, ‘Your Excellency, from this point there is Kwankwaso, there is El-Rufai, and there is another person. I would like to suggest you approach them.’

“The business I do now, which started around 2011, was planned as far back as 1996, and if in 2024 you cannot plan for 2027, I am sorry, I cannot continue to be with you.

“So they are going together now with Kwankwaso, it was my idea. Will it work? I think it is a big question. We will wait and see.”

Baba-Ahmed also questioned why Kwankwaso did not support Obi in the 2023 elections, wondering what had changed in the political equation and suggesting potential leadership rivalry within the coalition.

“However, remember, why didn’t Kwankwaso support Peter Obi in 2022/23? What changed between 2022 and 2023?

“You have a vice-president who is older than you in age, education, political profile, and many other respects. Who is going to be the president, actually?”

Turning to Obi’s departure from the Labour Party, Baba-Ahmed said: “Someone who got the Labour Party ticket so easily should have stayed to fix the problems of the Labour Party, however difficult they were.

“I stood firm and earned the wrath of many because I said, ‘Come and reconcile’ in the Labour Party, only for me to hear and read that my former leader says wherever there is a quarrel, he will walk away. So, there is a quarrel in Nigeria; you will walk away? These are things that do not add up.

“A leader must be firm. However gentle you are as a leader, you must be willing to fight. If you are not ready to fight, do not even come out; stay in your house.

“You are going into politics, which is a contact sport, and in a country like Nigeria that is diverse and heated, you do not want to argue? Then this is not your game.”

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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