Baba-Ahmed reveals what he said to Peter Obi before joining ADC

Datti Baba-Ahmed, Peter Obi’s running mate in the 2023 presidential elections, revealed that he advised Obi against joining the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 elections.

Baba-Ahmed spoke during an interview on the MIC ON Podcast, while answering a question about what has changed in his perception of Obi since the 2023 presidential campaign.

According to him, he personally advised Obi not to join ADC, and warned that the party was not the right political platform for him.

Baba-Ahmed said he even preceded Obi to the Yar’Adua Centre, where he pulled Obi aside and expressed his objection to the move.

“When he was going to join ADC, I had to go to Yar’Adua Center first, I called him aside. They were worried. Why did Datti call Peter Obi aside and talk to him?” he said.

He said he then explained his position to Obi, telling him that the ADC was not suitable for his political ambitions.

“And I told him, ‘This is the last time I’m coming to this place. I gave him my reasons. This is not the place for you.’ Am I wrong? I was proven right,” said Baba-Ahmed.

He pointed to Obi’s departure from ADC as proof that his concerns were justified.

“Within four months, Peter Obi left ADC,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed also said Obi had deviated from political positions he had previously taken, and stated that he was uncomfortable with what he described as contradictions in political behavior.

“Now, I don’t like people who contradict themselves, and I don’t want to criticize Atiku’s politics anymore because that’s not what I mean,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed said he could not help the former governor of Anambra State to remain back in the Labor Party because he did not heed his advice.

“Peter Obi stepped out of his comfort zone without following my advice. Beyond that, I can no longer help him,” he said.

Obi and Baba-Ahmed are the Labor Party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates respectively in the 2023 general election, finishing third behind Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party.