I Was Taken Out of Context Over Peter Obi Remark — Datti Baba-Ahmed

Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed has defended his recent comments about Peter Obi, saying Nigerians focused on a single sentence while overlooking the broader argument he was making about the 2027 presidential election.

Datti made the clarification during an appearance on Trust TV’s Daily Politics, days after facing backlash for saying that none of the leading politicians challenging President Bola Tinubu, including Obi, had the capacity to transform Nigeria. The remark, made during an earlier interview, triggered widespread criticism from supporters of the former Anambra State governor.

According to Datti, his original discussion centred on the electoral prospects of President Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar before the interviewer asked whether the same assessment also applied to Obi. He said his response was intended to emphasize the need for equal treatment of all presidential contenders rather than endorse any particular candidate.

“Because of time and stress… I said, ‘Yes, including Peter Obi,’ and then that is what Nigerians took,” Datti explained.

The former Kaduna senator insisted that his position was rooted in equity and democratic fairness, arguing that every aspirant should compete on a level playing field. He rejected suggestions that his comments amounted to support for Atiku Abubakar or any other opposition figure, stressing that he was speaking about principles rather than political endorsements.

Datti also questioned what he described as a political double standard surrounding Obi, noting that the former governor was able to leave Atiku’s political camp in 2022 without similar outrage, yet criticism erupted when others appeared to distance themselves from Obi. He further revealed that he had previously advised Obi against leaving the Labour Party, saying he believed the move was politically unwise.

The exchange highlights the increasingly complex relationships within Nigeria’s opposition ahead of the 2027 general election. Once political partners on the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential ticket, Obi and Datti now find themselves at the centre of growing debate over strategy, party realignments and the future of opposition politics.

While Datti’s clarification may ease some of the immediate controversy, it also underscores how quickly political conversations can be reshaped by isolated soundbites. As the race toward 2027 gathers momentum, the challenge for opposition leaders may be not only building alliances, but also ensuring that public debate remains focused on ideas rather than excerpts.