Former Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has met with Julius Abure, the factional National Chairman of the party.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday, Baba-Ahmed also pledged to spearhead reconciliation efforts between the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and other disgruntled stakeholders, in a bid to rebuild unity within LP ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He disclosed this at the National Executive Committee meeting of the Abure faction in Abuja.
“Labour Party is not a party to walk away from.
“The successes, the history that Labour Party of Nigeria has recorded is unique and unprecedented,” Datti declared.
Reflecting on the 2023 election, he said, “We presented clear records and evidence of 10 million votes scored in the last election, thereafter reduced to 6.1 million votes.
“The act of state capture is a more onerous task causing disunity and disaffection within political parties.”
Describing himself as a loyal party man, Datti explained his mission.
“I am here as a peacemaker to reconcile divergent opinions.
“I’m very proud to say that I did attend meetings of a certain attempt for a coalition in Nigeria.
“Morally speaking, if your neighbourhood invites you to discuss security, you must attend.
“However, if you attend and they discuss other matters besides that, you are at liberty to restore yourself to your former position.
“I have attended and I have listened to the coalition attempts, yet I remain in the Labour Party.
“I am not one to sleepwalk into any political arrangements,” he stated.
Taking a veiled jab at the new coalition efforts by the African Democratic Congress, Datti warned party members not to be swayed into political alliances that don’t align with LP’s values or objectives.
He said, “I must say, in the past, a coalition was made and a Nigerian government was voted out.
“I note with pleasure that this is what we as the Labour Party did in 2023 and what we are about to do again in 2027.
“However, the government that follows is even more important than the act of removing the government itself. A government was removed and what followed was disaster.”
Datti expressed strong concern about the quality of governance post-transition, stressing that his priority was not just to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress but to help form a credible alternative.
He also affirmed recognition of both the Nenadi Usman-led group and the Abure-led executive, noting that the Independent National Electoral Commission currently acknowledges the Abure faction as the legitimate leadership.
“This I do, devoid of any personal interest, devoid of any ambition, and devoid of any animosity to any group whatsoever,” he stated.
Datti further cited recent remarks by Obi as reassuring, saying, “I am glad also to note that from the comments of my boss, His Excellency Governor Peter Obi, he remains in the Labour Party.”
He vowed to rally all factions together, “for us to sit down, understand each other better and move forward.”