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According to a report by Daily Post on Thursday, June 4, 2026, former Labour Party Vice-Presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, says he personally advised Peter Obi to work with former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso long before discussions about a political alliance between both men gained public attention.
Baba-Ahmed made the disclosure during an interview on Symfoni TV, where he reflected on post-2023 election political conversations and strategies within the opposition camp. He said the suggestion was made privately long before any public discussion emerged about a possible alliance between both politicians.
According to him, the conversation took place in January 2024, shortly after the conclusion of the 2023 presidential election, during a period when opposition figures were reviewing their performance and planning ahead.
He explained that his advice to Obi was driven by the need for broader political cooperation and stronger coordination among opposition leaders if they hoped to mount a serious challenge to the ruling party in subsequent elections.
“In one of our discussions, I reached out to him and asked what his next political direction was,” Baba-Ahmed said. “When it appeared there was no definite structure or plan, I suggested that if there was no clear roadmap at the time, he should consider working with Kwankwaso.”
The former vice-presidential candidate argued that Nigeria’s political environment requires long-term preparation, alliances, and sustained organisational structure rather than short-term political engagements. He stressed that successful electoral outcomes are often the result of years of groundwork and strategic alignment.
He further pointed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political journey as an example of long-term planning and coalition building. According to him, Tinubu’s emergence was not accidental but the product of sustained political organisation over many years.
“Tinubu spent about 16 years building networks and structures,” he noted. “Politics is not something you approach from a short-term or reactive position. It requires patience, consistency, and long-range planning.”
Baba-Ahmed also clarified that despite internal disagreements within the Labour Party after the 2023 elections, he has continued to support Peter Obi in principle and remains committed to discussions around opposition unity and political restructuring.
He emphasised that his position has consistently been centred on strengthening democratic competition and ensuring that opposition voices remain relevant and coordinated in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
