I Feel Guilty” — Datti Baba-Ahmed Admits He Engineered Obi-Kwankwaso Alliance

Former Labour Party vice presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has revealed that he was instrumental in proposing a political alliance between Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In an interview with Punch, Baba-Ahmed admitted that he now feels guilty for advising Obi to consider working with Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to him, the suggestion was made during a meeting with Obi on January 31, 2024, at JohnWood Hotel, where he encouraged the former Anambra governor to reach out to key northern political figures, including Kwankwaso and Nasir El-Rufai.

Baba-Ahmed explained that his recommendation was driven by long-term political calculations, stressing the importance of early planning ahead of the next general election.

However, he admitted that he later began to reconsider the political implications of such an alliance, especially regarding northern support and the dynamics surrounding leadership ambitions within the proposed coalition.

He expressed doubts that the North would fully embrace an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket, questioning how supporters in Kano would react to Kwankwaso — a long-time presidential aspirant — accepting a deputy role.

Baba-Ahmed also noted that political alliances often depend on balancing influence, regional interests, and public perception, adding that those factors made him rethink the feasibility of the arrangement.

Despite his concerns, he maintained that he still holds both Obi and Kwankwaso in high regard and retains a strong relationship with them.

On whether such an alliance could successfully challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, Baba-Ahmed said the outcome remains uncertain and can only be determined with time.