The Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has expressed doubts over the sustainability of the coalition formed to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s government ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Baba-Ahmed questioned whether the alliance comprising prominent opposition figures could withstand the test of internal competition, particularly if certain candidates fail to secure the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the platform adopted by the coalition.
“I think we should not be swept away by this coalition,” Baba-Ahmed said.
“You have key players Peter Obi, I will call him first—Amaechi, Atiku, and maybe Nasir El-Rufai, all coming together from diverse backgrounds with a variety of interests.”
He noted that while the excitement around the coalition is palpable, the close political stature of major figures such as Peter Obi, Chibuike Amaechi, and Atiku Abubakar could lead to tensions.
“Out of these three, you can imagine that Atiku, Obi, and Amaechi clearly are front runners. It makes me think, how will the contest be? They are very, very close in the race.”
Drawing a comparison to past political developments, Baba-Ahmed referenced President Muhammadu Buhari’s outsider status in his early political career.
“Buhari was a distant outlier, far from the pack. But here, all three are very close together. Now, if one wins, will the two others still remain in the coalition?” he asked.
The coalition is made up of several political heavyweights, including former Governor of Rivers State Chibuike Amaechi, former Governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Anambra State Peter Obi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Senate President David Mark.
With the African Democratic Congress now positioned as the coalition’s chosen platform for the 2027 election, questions around unity and compromise among its leaders remain a key concern for observers.
