Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the 2023 vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has stated that Peter Obi deserves to be the presidential flagbearer of the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition — not anyone’s running mate.

 

Speaking on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Thursday, July 3, Baba-Ahmed argued that Obi’s performance in the 2023 presidential election, where he polled over 10 million votes (though disputed), makes him more than qualified to lead any opposition alliance heading into 2027.

 

“The office of Vice President is huge, I agree — I aspired for it myself and was rigged out. But Peter Obi should not play second fiddle after his 2023 showing,” he said.

 

He noted that among the likely contenders for the coalition’s presidential ticket — including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Minister Rotimi Amaechi — Obi stands out and should not settle for a subordinate role.

 

Baba-Ahmed also challenged the prevailing idea that only a coalition can defeat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He pointed to the Labour Party’s 2023 performance as proof that a single party with the right momentum can challenge the status quo.

 

“In 2023, Labour Party defeated both APC and PDP without a formal coalition,” he said. “The real coalition we need is at the ballot box — where voters unite and protect their votes until results are declared.”