Datti Baba-Ahmed: Obi-Kwankwaso 2027 Alliance Lacks Northern Support, Leadership Questioned

Datti Baba-Ahmed, former vice presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, asserts northern Nigeria will not rally behind any Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso presidential ticket come 2027. His declaration comes as he defects to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), signalling a significant shift in opposition dynamics and casting a shadow over the nascent Obi-Kwankwaso alliance.

Baba-Ahmed, speaking to journalists after joining the PRP, clarifies this position is personal, yet rooted in deep political insight. While maintaining excellent relationships and respect for both politicians, he sees no path for the North to coalesce around Peter Obi, former Anambra State Governor, or Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor.

The pronouncement directly challenges the recent political manoeuvring by Obi and Kwankwaso, who recently decamped from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as part of broader opposition realignments. Baba-Ahmed reveals he initially advised Obi to engage Kwankwaso and other opposition figures for 2027, even suggesting the alliance. However, he now views a Kwankwaso deputising Obi scenario as 'almost impossible'.

Leadership Under Scrutiny

Baba-Ahmed pulls no punches, criticising Obi’s recent exit from the Labour Party amid its internal turmoil. He argues that consistently fleeing from crises and then publicly boasting about it demonstrates a fundamental flaw in leadership. Obi had previously defended his frequent party changes by stating he walks away from 'crisis-ridden and toxic environments' in both private and public life.

This 'walk away' mentality, Baba-Ahmed insists, is antithetical to effective leadership, especially in Nigeria's charged political landscape. He questions why Obi, who secured the Labour Party ticket with relative ease, did not remain to resolve its internal problems. 'If there’s a quarrel in Nigeria; you’ll walk away?' he queries, highlighting the inconsistency of such a stance for a national leader.

Reflecting on the 2023 elections, Baba-Ahmed recounts how Obi struggled to find a northern running mate, with many avoiding him. He explains his decision to join the ticket was based on a moral obligation. However, he contrasts this with the perceived lack of resolve to 'fight' for victory, particularly regarding alleged constitutional breaches during the poll. He asserts he was the sole voice fighting against the abnormalities.

An Alliance Doomed?

The former federal lawmaker further dissects the inherent challenges of the Obi-Kwankwaso partnership. He asks pointedly why Rabiu Kwankwaso, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate in 2023, did not support Peter Obi then, and what exactly has changed in the political equation. Baba-Ahmed foresees an inevitable leadership conflict, noting the potential for a vice president — older, more educated, and with a stronger political profile and burning ambition — to overshadow the principal.

Baba-Ahmed clarifies his defection to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) is not driven by a desperate quest for the presidential ticket. Instead, his primary objective is to 'fix Nigeria' and democratically 'drive out' the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, Chairman of the PRP, affirms the party's commitment to justice and fair play. He states the PRP will ultimately align with public opinion when selecting its presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.