Why I became Obi’s VP in 2023 — Datti Baba-Ahmed

The vice-presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed has revealed that his decision to partner with Peter Obi was largely motivated by sympathy for the presidential candidate and the precarious state of the nation’s politics.

Speaking in an interview, Baba-Ahmed disclosed that Obi had faced significant resistance from the political establishment while trying to form his ticket.

According to the Kaduna-born politician and academic, Obi had approached three prominent, high-profile politicians ahead of the 2023 polls to serve as his running mate, but all three turned down the offer.

Baba-Ahmed explained that witnessing the former Anambra State governor get rejected by major political figures sparked a sense of empathy.

He noted that his ultimate resolution to step onto the ticket was driven by a desire to support Obi during a period of isolation and to address the critical political situation Nigeria was facing at that time.

The alliance between Obi and Baba-Ahmed went on to create a formidable third-force movement in the 2023 elections, heavily backed by the country’s youth demographic, disrupting Nigeria’s traditional two-party dominance.