Datti Baba-Ahmed, former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, says members who recently left the party are merely “political travellers”.
Baba-Ahmed spoke on Wednesday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, where he also formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.
His remarks followed the defection of Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the LP in the 2023 election, to the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Obi joined the ADC after months of consultations involving opposition leaders, including Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, with whom he contested the 2019 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Before leaving the LP, Obi urged his supporters, popularly known as Obidients, to align with the ADC.
Speaking at the party’s secretariat, Baba-Ahmed criticised former LP members who benefitted from the party’s platform but chose to jump ship.
“I had earlier engaged all party members to reconcile, and while some heeded my calls, others took offence and proceeded to defect,” he said.
“No regrets to me for this role. However, as a leader in this party, in this defection case, neither my humble self nor the Labour Party are the aggressors.
“A group of political travellers welcomed in 2022 with a presidential ticket continue with their journey. Simple.
“This is a fact to keep in mind in anticipation of their ever ready hostile online attitudes.
“With all humility, Labour Party can flaunt its successes in the presence of financial difficulties. In an era of perfected electoral fraud, the Labour Party produced a state governor, eight senators, about 40 house of representatives members, and about 50 state house of assembly members.”
Baba-Ahmed said although several elected officials have since exited the party, he remains “proud to be associated with real members” of the LP.
On May 25, 2022, Obi, former governor of Anambra, resigned his membership of the PDP.
Obi announced his exit from the PDP days before the party’s presidential primary, citing “recent developments in the party that do not support constructive contributions”.
On May 27, 2022, Obi joined the LP, where he later clinched the presidential ticket for the 2023 elections.
The former governor was expected to contest the PDP presidential primary scheduled for May 28, 2022.
He polled third in the 2023 presidential election.
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