Former Labour Party (LP) presidential running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has explained his decision to part ways with Peter Obi, saying the former Anambra State governor had yet to present a clear plan for Nigeria.
Datti served as Obi’s running mate during the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party. Following the election, Obi left the LP and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) before subsequently moving to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking during an interview with Symfoni TV, Datti said he was unwilling to support Obi, Atiku Abubakar and other opposition figures simply for political reasons, stressing that he believed in fairness.
He said he had worked extensively to support Obi during the 2023 election but eventually informed him that he needed to develop a clear policy direction for the country.
According to Datti, his departure should not be interpreted as Obi abandoning him, insisting that he was the one who chose to leave because of what he described as the absence of a comprehensive plan for Nigeria.
Datti, however, said he still respects Obi and acknowledged the role he played in the former governor’s 2023 presidential campaign.
He expressed disappointment over some of Obi’s subsequent political decisions but maintained that they remained his personal choices.
Datti also stated that he would not deliberately act against President Bola Tinubu by promoting the opposition candidates without what he considered a compelling reason.
He maintained that political decisions should be guided by fairness and principle rather than personal interests.
