2023 vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Datti Baba-Ahmed has announced his resignation from the party and his decision to join the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
Mr Baba-Ahmed made the announcement on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
He said his exit was due to internal disagreements, a departure from the party’s founding ideals and what he described as interference in opposition politics.
“They redeployed someone to come with a specific purpose, and because of the antecedents of the individual, to make life difficult, particularly for me. But what Labour Party stood for then is no longer what it is today,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of focusing on weakening opposition parties instead of addressing national issues.
“We have had a government that has made its primary purpose the destruction of other political parties. Instead of fighting insecurity and fixing our economy and stopping the stealing, what is more important is to destroy political parties,” he said.
He said his resignation from the Labour Party would take effect at midnight on Tuesday.
“I’m leaving Labour Party at midnight tonight, and I’m joining PRP. PRP is the new destination. PRP is the one with the history. It’s about 75 years old,” he stated.
The PRP traces its roots to the political movement founded by late Aminu Kano and is regarded as one of Nigeria’s long-standing political parties.
Baba-Ahmed said he would work towards producing “a genuine southern, possibly Christian candidate” on the PRP platform ahead of the 2027 general election.
When asked about a possible presidential ambition, he did not give a direct answer but pointed to his political and business background.
“At 33, House of Reps; at 41, Senate; university licence, another university licence, biggest private hospital in Africa, and the list goes on. Why do I have to be president or vice president?” he said.
Baba-Ahmed was the running mate to Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party.
Earlier this year, he had urged Mr Obi to return to the LP if he failed to secure the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“I have much respect for Peter Obi. If he doesn’t get the ADC ticket, he should come back to the Labour Party please,” he said at the time.
He also said he would work to reconcile Obi with party members and support his bid for the Labour Party ticket if necessary.
Baba-Ahmed’s departure adds to recent political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election.
