It Was Time And Stress’ — Datti Explains Why He Said Peter Obi Can’t Fix Nigeria

Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Datti Baba-Ahmed has explained his controversial remark that Peter Obi is among the political figures who cannot fix Nigeria, saying the statement was made amid time pressure and stress during an interview.

According to Ireporter Online, Baba-Ahmed made the clarification while appearing on Trust TV’s Daily Politics, where he discussed the 2027 presidential election and his call for President Bola Tinubu to ensure a level playing field for all contenders.

Baba-Ahmed said Nigerians appeared to have focused on his reference to Obi rather than the broader point he was making about the need for fairness in the electoral process.

He explained that the discussion had initially centred on the political prospects of Tinubu and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar before the interviewer asked whether his position also applied to Obi, whom he supported as running mate during the 2023 presidential election.

Baba-Ahmed maintained that his argument was not an endorsement of Atiku but a call for equal opportunities for all candidates ahead of the 2027 election.

He said the issue was about ensuring that every contender had a fair chance to participate in the electoral process.

“Tinubu does not have enough votes to win, if Atiku is the leading challenger, Atiku does not have who to declare him. Do you now see the problem?” he said.

According to Baba-Ahmed, when the interviewer subsequently asked whether his position included Obi, he answered in the affirmative because of the limited time available.

He said the response was later taken out of the wider context of the discussion and became the main focus of public reaction.

“Now, because of time and stress and all that, it was on Friday and to get the question out of the way, I said, ‘Yes, including Peter Obi’ and then, that is what Nigerians took,” Baba-Ahmed said.

The former Labour Party presidential running mate also questioned the criticism directed at him over the comment, arguing that politicians should be allowed to make independent political decisions and move between parties.

He referenced Obi’s decision to leave the political structure associated with Atiku in 2022 before later moving from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“Now, it is okay for Peter Obi to leave Atiku in 2022, go to another party, share the votes and lose it, but it is not okay for anybody to leave Peter Obi. What kind of country are we in? Am I not a Nigerian?” Baba-Ahmed asked.

He further recalled his disagreement with Obi’s decision to leave the Labour Party, saying he had previously advised him against joining the ADC.

Baba-Ahmed said he had made efforts to keep Obi within the Labour Party but was unable to prevent his eventual departure.

“We were in Labour Party and he had been cancelled as the presidential candidate since 2024. I did everything to keep Peter Obi in, he moved out to ADC and I told him, it is not a place for you,” he said.

His comments come amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election, with major political figures and parties positioning themselves for the presidential contest.