Datti dumps LP for PRP

The 2023 Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has announced his resignation from the Labour Party and his intention to join the Peoples Redemption Party.

He made the disclosure on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.

Baba-Ahmed who ran alongside Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi in the 2023 general election, cited internal disagreements, a drift from the party’s founding ideals, and alleged government interference in opposition politics as reasons for his exit.

“They redeployed someone to come with a specific purpose, and because of the antecedents of the individual, to make life difficult, particularly for me. But what Labour Party stood for then is no longer what it is today,” he said.

He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of prioritising the destruction of opposition parties over governance.

“We have had a government who has made its primary purpose the destruction of other political parties. Instead of fighting insecurity and fixing our economy and stopping the stealing, what is more important is to destroy political parties,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed said his departure from the LP would take effect at midnight and declared the PRP his next political destination.

“I’m leaving Labour Party midnight tonight, and I’m joining PRP. PRP is the new destination. PRP is the one with the history. It’s about 75 years old,” he stated.

He added that he would work towards producing “a genuine southern, possibly Christian candidate” from the PRP ahead of the 2027 elections.

On speculation about his own presidential ambition, Baba-Ahmed was coy but did not rule it out, saying he remained content with his achievements.

“At 33, House of Reps; at 41, Senate; university licence, another university licence, biggest private hospital in Africa, and the list goes on. Why do I have to be president or vice president?” he said.