
Confusion hit the Labour Party (LP) on Monday following the dramatic appearance of its 2023 vice presidential candidate, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Julius Abure-led faction.
Naija News reports that this is coming days after Baba-Ahmed also appeared at a meeting convened by a parallel faction loyal to Senator Nenadi Usman and the party’s former Presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
His appearance at both factions NEC had raised concerns about his true political allegiance.
Speaking at the Abure-led NEC, Datti declared unwavering loyalty to the party and pledged to reconcile its deeply fractured leadership.
He said: “I remain in the Labour Party because I believe in its mission. I am here as a loyal member, a peacemaker, and a reconciler,” adding that the party is “not one to walk away from.”
However, party insiders told The Guardian that his earlier presence at the Nenadi Usman-led meeting has raised questions about whether the 2023 vice presidential candidate is playing a dual game or attempting to keep his options open in the face of increasing political uncertainty.
Datti had insisted that his involvement in coalition talks was in good faith and motivated by concerns over national security.
He cautioned against being “led blindly into political arrangements,” drawing applause from some quarters but receiving side glances from others.
A party chieftain, who preferred not to be named, said: “There’s nothing wrong with Datti trying to unite us, but you can’t fraternise with two opposing factions and expect not to raise suspicion. He must come clean.”
A senior Labour Party official cautioned: “The Constitution is clear. You cannot belong to two political families at once. Even the Bible says you cannot be hot and cold at the same time.”
Questions are being raised over the loyalty of other prominent figures in the Labour Party, including FCT Senator Ireti Kingibe, whose position in the party remains unclear.
“She would be in a better position to answer whether she’s still in the party,” one LP leader told The Guardian.
Although Peter Obi has not publicly spoken on the mega coalition to unseat the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Datti confirmed during the NEC meeting that his former running mate remains with the Labour Party.
He said: “I come before you not just as a member, but as a loyal son of this great movement, standing firm in my belief that the Labour Party is not a party to walk away from.
“Our journey has been historic. The achievements of the Labour Party, particularly in the 2023 general elections, remain unprecedented. We presented clear evidence of having polled over 10 million votes—a feat unmatched by any third force in Nigeria’s democratic history. Though reduced in post-election adjustments, those votes represented the voice of Nigerians for change.
“What we face today, however, is not merely a political challenge but the far more dangerous threat of state capture, which is far worse than any internal divisions or political disagreements. After the tragedy of the 2023 elections, Nigeria was promised good governance. Instead, what we have witnessed is continuous political manipulation within government, across regions, and sadly, even within parties.
“Despite these trials, I stand here today as a peacemaker and a reconciler. I have participated in meetings aimed at building a broader coalition for Nigeria’s future. Let me say this: when your neighbours invite you to discuss insecurity in your community, it is only right and moral that you attend. However, if those discussions stray into territory that is misaligned with your principles, you are also right to return to your original position.
“That is what I have done. I attended those coalition meetings, I listened, and I returned—because I remain fully committed to the Labour Party. I am not one to sleepwalk into any political arrangement. I urge all members of our party to remain vigilant. We must not allow ourselves to be led into alliances or decisions that do not align with our vision or values.
“Indeed, coalitions in the past have succeeded in removing governments, but we must ask: what came after? We saw how the wrong kind of leadership followed. Therefore, it is not just about removing a government; it is about the kind of government we seek to build afterwards.
“In the next three years, our duty is clear: to put our house in order and stay united. We must learn from the past, and we must act with clarity and conviction toward the future.”
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