Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has defended his decision to leave the Labour Party and join the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), insisting that Obi don’t own me and that his political decisions are guided by personal conviction rather than loyalty to any individual.
Baba-Ahmed, who was the running mate of Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election, made the remarks while speaking on the Naija Unfiltered podcast, where he addressed growing questions about why he declined to follow Obi into the opposition coalition that later aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The former senator revealed that many supporters expected him to move alongside Obi after the former Anambra State governor distanced himself from the internal crisis that engulfed the Labour Party. However, Baba-Ahmed said he believed the challenges within the party should have been resolved rather than abandoned.
According to him, leadership requires confronting problems and rebuilding institutions instead of moving to a new political platform whenever disagreements arise. “They thought I would follow Peter Obi, but I had given enough sympathy then and I thought as a leader, what he should do then is to solve the problem out,” Baba-Ahmed said.
The former lawmaker questioned the logic behind leaving one party because of internal disputes only to join another party that could eventually face similar challenges. Referring to the crisis surrounding Labour Party leadership, he argued that political disagreements are not unique to any single party.
“If Abure was a problem, what makes him think the Nwosu or the David Mark of the ADC will not be a problem? What makes him think the chairman of Seriake’s party, NDC, will not be a problem? It’s the same thing wherever you go. Stay here and fix the problem; let’s work together, and he decided to move,” he stated.
Baba-Ahmed explained that his refusal to join the ADC was based on principles he had consistently maintained throughout the Labour Party crisis. He said he communicated his position directly to Obi before deciding to pursue his political future through a different platform.
The former vice-presidential candidate stressed that political alliances should not be interpreted as ownership or control. “With due respect, Peter Obi does not own my politics, he does not own me. I am independent,” he said.
The statement has sparked fresh debate among Labour Party supporters and members of the opposition coalition, many of whom had expected the former vice-presidential candidate to remain politically aligned with Obi. Baba-Ahmed maintained that his position was not driven by personal disagreement but by his belief that political leaders should remain committed to fixing internal problems rather than abandoning existing structures.
Reiterating the message behind Obi don’t own me, he said he had clearly explained his reasons to Obi before making his decision.
“And I said, alright sir. I have different reasons for joining you. If you want to move, go ahead. I gave my cogent and logical reason for not joining the ADC, all of which have come through,” he added. For Baba-Ahmed, the debate is ultimately about political independence. By insisting that Obi don’t own me, he sought to underline that while he respects Obi and values their 2023 partnership, his political future will be determined by his own convictions and not by the decisions of another politician.
