A fresh political confrontation has emerged between former Labour Party presidential and vice-presidential candidates Peter Obi and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed after Datti declared that none of the major politicians challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, including Obi, has the capacity to improve Nigeria.
Datti, who was Obi’s running mate on the Labour Party ticket in the 2023 presidential election, made the remarks during an interview on the Mic On Podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye.
He advised Tinubu to prepare to leave office but argued that Nigerians should not expect the opposition figures currently seeking to replace him to transform the country.
“I will simply advise uncle (Tinubu) to please prepare to hand over and move away, but not to the people contesting against him because none of them will improve Nigeria,” Datti said.
When asked whether his assessment covered all the major opposition candidates, Datti maintained his position and specifically included his former running mate.
“Because none of them will improve Nigeria. All those people contesting against him too were all in bed together at some point or another — including Peter Obi. At some point, he was in PDP,” he said.
The former lawmaker said his argument was based largely on the political history of the leading contenders.
Datti argued that Nigeria needs a “whole new Nigeria” rather than a return to politicians who have previously been associated with the country's established political parties.
Datti also sought to distinguish himself from other political figures by pointing to his history in opposition politics.
He said he had been a member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), but maintained that the party was an opposition party at the time and that he resigned before its merger with other parties that eventually produced the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I never had an APC membership card,” he said, while insisting that he had never belonged to a ruling party.
His argument was that political change cannot be achieved by simply rotating familiar political figures between parties and government positions.
Obi has now responded to the criticism, pointing to his record as governor of Anambra State as evidence that he has the experience to improve Nigeria if elected president.
In an interview with Arise News, Obi rejected Datti's assessment and argued that his record in Anambra provides a basis for his presidential ambitions.
“As a governor, I was able to improve Anambra State in critical areas of development, and I can do the same in Nigeria,” Obi said.
He said his administration would focus on improving governance, reducing the cost of running government, fighting corruption and waste, and strengthening law and order.
Obi identified national unity and security as two of his immediate priorities, alongside healthcare, education and measures aimed at reducing poverty.
He argued that Nigeria's challenges require a government capable of establishing stability and focusing resources on critical areas of development.
According to Obi, his administration would also seek to ensure credible elections and allow political parties to function properly.
“I will focus on our priorities to unite the country, as it’s not united today, and secure the country,” he said.
The disagreement comes as Nigeria's opposition landscape becomes increasingly crowded ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Obi is now the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), while former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is seeking the presidency under the African Democratic Congress (ADC). President Tinubu is expected to seek a second term on the APC platform.
Datti's criticism is particularly notable because he and Obi were political partners only three years ago, when their Labour Party ticket attracted significant support from young Nigerians.
His latest comments have therefore raised questions about the depth of the political disagreement between the two former allies and the wider fragmentation of Nigeria's opposition ahead of 2027.
The dispute also highlights a broader question likely to dominate the election campaign: whether Nigeria needs a change of political personalities, a fundamental change in the political system, or both.
For Obi, his answer rests partly on his record in Anambra and his proposed programme for national governance. For Datti, the answer lies in moving beyond politicians who have previously been part of the established political order.
With the 2027 contest gathering momentum, the disagreement between the former running mates is likely to become another significant storyline in the battle for Nigeria's opposition vote.
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