Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, says defectors from the party are “political travellers.”
Baba-Ahmed spoke on Wednesday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, where he also declared his 2027 presidential ambition.
His remarks followed the exit of Peter Obi, the LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, who recently defected to the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Obi joined the ADC after months of consultations involving members of the opposition coalition, including former vice president Atiku Abubakar, whom he previously ran alongside in 2019 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Before leaving the LP, Obi had called on his supporters, popularly known as Obidients, to identify with the ADC.
Baba-Ahmed, while speaking at the party’s secretariat, appeared to criticise some former LP members who benefited from the party’s platform but later chose to leave.
“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.
“With all humility, Labour Party can flaunt its success. 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 added that although several elected officials have since dumped the party, he remains “proud to be associated with real members” of the LP.