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Peter Obi Fires Back at Datti Baba-Ahmed, Points to Anambra Record as Proof He Can Transform Nigeria
Peter Obi Fires Back at Datti Baba-Ahmed, Points to Anambra Record as Proof He Can Transform Nigeria
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has responded to a recent assessment by his former running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, that none of the politicians preparing to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election including Obi has what it takes to deliver the change Nigeria needs.
Obi, who governed Anambra State before moving into national politics, dismissed the need for a prolonged argument over his capacity to lead, instead directing attention to his record in office.
Speaking during an interview with Ojinika Okpe of Arise TV, the former Anambra governor said his performance in the state provided a practical example of what Nigerians could expect if he were entrusted with the leadership of the country.
The exchange followed a question from Okpe, who reminded Obi of Baba-Ahmed’s recent declaration that he could not transform Nigeria and asked him to respond.
Rather than directly attacking his former political associate, Obi pointed to his experience in Anambra, arguing that his achievements in the state demonstrated his ability to make meaningful interventions in critical sectors of governance and development.
“Well, I can only use an example of where I passed through. I passed through Anambra State and I improved the state, in critical areas of development. And I can do the same thing in Nigeria,” Obi said.
Obi further outlined some of the priorities he said would define his administration if he wins the 2027 presidential election.
According to him, his government would seek to restore order and civility to governance, improve the efficiency of government institutions and reduce what he described as the excessive and irresponsible cost of running the Nigerian government.
“I’m definitely sure that if given the opportunities, first I’ll bring civility and order and governance. I’ll be able to cut the cost of governance, which is irresponsible today. I’ll be able to do quite a number of things that will bring honour, respect to the country,” he said.
The comments come against the backdrop of Baba-Ahmed’s increasingly independent political position since the 2023 presidential election, when he served as Obi’s running mate on the Labour Party ticket.
Baba-Ahmed recently appeared on the Mic On Podcast, where he discussed the emerging political landscape ahead of the 2027 election and assessed the chances of opposition politicians seeking to unseat Tinubu.
In his assessment, Baba-Ahmed argued that none of the politicians currently positioning themselves against the president possessed the capacity to fundamentally change Nigeria.
“None of the people running against President Tinubu can change the country,” Baba-Ahmed said.
When specifically asked whether his assessment also applied to Obi, Baba-Ahmed gave an unequivocal response.
“Including Peter Obi.”
The statement is particularly significant because of the political relationship between the two men, who jointly contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party and emerged as one of the most prominent opposition pairings of that election cycle.
Their political paths, however, have since taken different directions, with Baba-Ahmed repeatedly emphasising that his political decisions are independent of Obi.
In an earlier interview with Symfoni in June, Baba-Ahmed offered an insight into the circumstances that led to his decision to become Obi’s running mate.
He said his decision was influenced substantially by what he described as sympathy for Obi after several prominent politicians allegedly declined to join the former Anambra governor’s political project.
According to Baba-Ahmed, Obi had approached three major politicians in 2022 while attempting to build a political alliance, but they allegedly chose not to work with him.
Baba-Ahmed said he was disappointed by the development and eventually decided to volunteer himself for the project.
“They thought I would follow Peter Obi,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He explained the nature of the relationship further, saying, “People don’t understand between me and Peter Obi, I have a great deal of sympathy for him. And this sympathy was at the core of our relationship.”
Baba-Ahmed also recalled his disappointment over the alleged rejection Obi faced from the politicians he approached.
“When he approached three major politicians in 2022 they avoided him. I would have been glad if in 2022 one of them went with Peter Obi. They all avoided him. I felt bad for him and for Nigeria as a nation.”
Although Baba-Ahmed said he was aware of the reasons those politicians decided against working with Obi, he declined to disclose their identities or provide details of the circumstances surrounding their decisions.
Baba-Ahmed has also sought to distance himself from assumptions that his political choices would automatically align with those of Obi.
As political realignments gather momentum ahead of 2027, he rejected suggestions that he would necessarily follow Obi into another political platform or alliance.
“They thought I would follow Peter Obi to ADC, but I had given enough sympathy then.
“Obi does not own me. I own my independence,” he said.
His position underscores the political distance that has emerged between the two men since their joint 2023 campaign, even as both remain prominent figures in Nigeria’s opposition politics.
Baba-Ahmed has previously expressed reservations about the ability of opposition politicians to construct a formidable and sustainable challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 election.
In May, while discussing the political dynamics likely to shape the next presidential contest, he highlighted the difficulties opposition candidates could face in securing broad support across northern Nigeria.
He pointed to the importance of regional influence, electoral calculations, political structures and the personalities involved in determining whether an opposition movement can translate public sentiment into electoral success.
“It is very unlikely that the North will rally around OK. That is my personal opinion,” he said.
Obi’s latest response now places the spotlight back on his record in Anambra and his argument that governance should ultimately be judged by measurable performance rather than political predictions.
With the 2027 presidential contest gradually taking shape, the contrasting positions of Obi and his former running mate add another layer to an opposition landscape already marked by competing alliances, political realignments a
nd divergent strategies for challenging the incumbent administration.
