‘ I Warned Peter Obi Against Joining Political Coalition, But It’s A Shame He Was Drawn In’ –baba-ahmed

Baba-Ahmed said he had consistently opposed the idea of politicians who had previously belonged to established political parties forming another coalition to seek power.

Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, Peter Obi’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election, has said he warned the former Labour Party presidential candidate against joining the political coalition formed to challenge President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.

The coalition brought together prominent opposition figures, including Obi, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Kogi State Senator Dino Melaye and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

The group later adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform in mid-2025, with the aim of uniting opposition forces to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 election.

However, the coalition was subsequently hit by internal disagreements over leadership, legal battles over control of the ADC and disputes over the party’s primary election process.

Obi resigned from the ADC on May 2, 2026, citing what he described as a toxic political environment, government interference and compromised internal democracy within the party.

Following his departure, Obi joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), which later ratified him as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election on May 30, 2026.

Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso subsequently joined Obi as his running mate under the NDC platform.

Baba-Ahmed said he had personally advised Obi that the coalition was not the right political platform for him, but expressed disappointment that the former Anambra State governor eventually joined the alliance.

“I miss a good Nigerian. But to an extent, yes. It is, um, a shame that Peter Obi was drawn in,” Baba-Ahmed said during an interview on The Mic-On Podcast, anchored by Seun Okinbaloye.

He said Obi had moved beyond the political comfort zone that had characterised his 2023 presidential campaign and that, after that point, he could no longer assist him politically.

Baba-Ahmed recalled that he had gone to the Yar’Adua Centre ahead of Obi and privately warned him against joining the coalition.

“When he was going to join ADC, I had to go to Yar’Adua Centre ahead of him, call him aside,” he said.

“They were worried: ‘Why is he calling Peter Obi aside and talking to him?’ And I told him, ‘This is the last time I’m coming to this place. But I want to tell you 1, 2, 3, 4.’

“I gave him my reasons, ‘This is not a place for you.’ Was I proven wrong? I was proven right. Within four months, Peter Obi left ADC. I don’t like people who contradict themselves.”

Baba-Ahmed said he had consistently opposed the idea of politicians who had previously belonged to established political parties forming another coalition to seek power.

He argued that Nigeria needs a credible political alternative rather than an alliance of politicians who previously operated within the same political establishment.

“I have always been of the opinion that if you have one legit party, they don’t need to go into a coalition. And that’s what I tried to do with Peter Obi. Let’s stand on our own and go our own way. Forget this coalition of a thing,” he said.

According to him, Obi rejected that approach and opted to join the coalition.

“He rejected it and went into the coalition,” Baba-Ahmed said.

The former lawmaker said his reservations about the coalition were also informed by his broader concerns about politicians who repeatedly move between political parties whenever their interests are not served.

Baba-Ahmed criticised politicians who, according to him, left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) after failing to get their way, and later moved out of the APC for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) when they became dissatisfied with the ruling party.

“When I’m talking about those who moved out of the then PDP because they wouldn’t have their way, haven’t changed anything about themselves and went into APC. Now that they’re disgruntled in APC, didn’t have their way, moved out of APC and go to ADC,” he said.

He argued that such movements do not amount to the political transformation Nigeria needs.

Baba-Ahmed insisted that his criticism of the political class was not motivated by a desire for political office.

“For your information, I am not a politician, and I’ve never been shy to say that I’m not a politician,” he said.

Asked about his previous political offices and electoral contests, he responded: “I’ve held political offices. I have contested political offices, yet I am not a politician.”

“What am I? I’m a lover of Nigeria,” he added.

Despite his criticism of Obi’s political choices, Baba-Ahmed said he still regarded him as a “good Nigerian” and acknowledged that he missed working with him.

“I miss a good Nigerian,” he said.

He explained that his relationship with Obi in 2023 was based largely on what he considered a shared commitment to changing Nigeria’s political trajectory.

Baba-Ahmed said he had also warned Obi about political developments that could affect his 2027 ambitions, but claimed that Obi eventually made decisions contrary to his advice.

He recalled a meeting with Obi at the Johnwood Hotel on January 31, 2024, where he said he raised concerns about the political landscape ahead of 2027.

“On the 31st of January, 2024, I sat with Peter Obi in Johnwood Hotel, 8:30 PM,” Baba-Ahmed said.

“That’s when I told him, ‘Your Excellency, from the way I see, I’ve seen things, there is Kwankwaso, there is El-Rufai, and there is another person, if he doesn’t go back to his former office. For me, I think you’ll find it hard to…’”

He did not complete the sentence in the interview.

Baba-Ahmed said his disagreement with Obi over the coalition should not be interpreted as support for Tinubu or any other established politician.

He said his position was that Nigerians should look beyond the existing political class.

“I would simply advise ‘Uncle’ to please prepare to hand over and move away, but not to the people contesting against him, because none of them will improve Nigeria,” he said, referring to Tinubu.

“None of that pack. Tinubu should leave the stage. All those people contesting against him, too, they were all in bed together at some point or another.”

When Okinbaloye asked whether that included Obi, Baba-Ahmed replied: “Including Peter Obi.”

He said his ultimate objective was not merely to replace one politician with another.

“I’m calling for a whole new Nigeria,” Baba-Ahmed said.

He challenged Nigerians to identify a major politician who had never been part of a ruling political party.

Baba-Ahmed also urged Nigerians who had remained outside politics to enter the political space, arguing that the country’s problems would persist as long as competent citizens continued to avoid political participation.

“The good people in Nigeria must come out, sacrifice their comfort, leave their comfort zones, come out and push out the bad elements that have been destroying Nigeria,” he said.

SOURCE: SAHARA REPOTERS