Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has expressed his support for the presidency to remain in Southern Nigeria in the 2027 general elections. In a wide-ranging interview aired on Channels Television on Wednesday, Baba-Ahmed affirmed his commitment to the principles of equity and fairness in Nigeria’s power rotation, while also distancing himself from a new coalition movement reportedly adopted by key opposition leaders, including his former running mate, Peter Obi.
The coalition, which has rallied around the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is being positioned as a potential alternative platform for opposition forces aiming to unseat the Tinubu administration in 2027. However, Baba-Ahmed said he was still trying to understand the basis of the ADC’s political structure and philosophy.
“Quite frankly, I’m still trying to understand ADC,” he said. “The coalition recently taunted ADC as the adopted party. I can’t say much about it because I’m overwhelmed with efforts to re-energise and refocus the Labour Party.”
His comments suggest a cautious approach to opposition realignment, especially in light of ongoing tensions and internal disputes within the Labour Party. Earlier this week, Baba-Ahmed attended a National Executive Council meeting of the Julius Abure-led faction of the party in Abuja. This faction has faced disputes over leadership legitimacy and direction. He emphasized the importance of unity, stating his willingness to reconcile differences between Obi and other stakeholders who may have defected or lost faith in the party’s direction.
Speaking further, Baba-Ahmed made it clear that he holds no reservations about power staying in the South in 2027. “I have no objection as I welcome power to still remain in the South,” he said. “That’s why I aspired to the presidency in 2019 and served as a running mate to Peter Obi in 2023. Before then, I had tried to contest the governorship of Kaduna and then I quit.”
Baba-Ahmed also used the platform to criticize the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), warning Nigerians not to trust the party. “Words of wisdom or advice: never believe whatever APC says,” he added, referencing what he described as the party’s repeated failure to deliver on its promises.
His remarks come at a time of shifting political alliances and uncertainty within Nigeria’s opposition landscape, as discussions around zoning, regional equity, and coalition-building intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
