Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has dismissed criticisms questioning his impact on the party’s performance in the 2023 presidential election, insisting that his role in the campaign went far beyond the votes he was personally able to attract.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Baba-Ahmed addressed claims made by some political commentators and critics who argued that his contribution to the Labour Party presidential ticket was limited to only a few thousand votes.
The former senator maintained that his value to the campaign should not be measured solely by electoral figures. According to him, his selection as the running mate to Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi was intended to strengthen the ticket’s national appeal and broaden its acceptance across different regions of the country.
Baba-Ahmed argued that successful presidential campaigns require more than numerical support from an individual’s immediate political base. He noted that building a competitive national movement involves strategic engagement, coalition-building, and efforts to gain trust from diverse groups of voters.
Reflecting on the challenges faced during the campaign, he said he remained committed to the Labour Party ticket despite numerous obstacles and controversies that emerged along the way. He suggested that some of the individuals now criticizing his contribution had not played a meaningful role in advancing Obi’s political ambitions.
According to Baba-Ahmed, his involvement in the campaign extended beyond public appearances and electoral mobilization. He said he frequently worked behind the scenes to resolve issues that could have negatively affected the party’s image and electoral prospects.
The former lawmaker recalled one instance involving concerns surrounding identity cards within the party. He explained that the matter was addressed shortly after he joined the presidential ticket, preventing what he believed could have developed into a larger political problem.
He also spoke about challenges related to allegations connected to mosque demolitions during Peter Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra State. Baba-Ahmed said the issue generated significant concern in parts of Northern Nigeria and posed a serious challenge for the campaign’s outreach efforts in the region.
According to him, he played a key role in calming tensions and preventing the controversy from causing further political damage.
In his words, “When he was governor, there was (a) mosque demolition, it was tough, but I silenced that matter.”
Baba-Ahmed further stated that his efforts to protect the campaign from damaging narratives were continuous throughout the election season. He cited the re-emergence of the controversial “Yes Daddy” video as another issue that required intervention and careful management.
He argued that repeated efforts to address such controversies helped preserve the stability of the Labour Party campaign at critical moments and enabled the ticket to continue building support, particularly across Northern Nigeria.
The former vice-presidential candidate emphasized that political campaigns involve substantial work that often takes place away from public attention. While many observers focus on vote counts and election-day results, he said important contributions are sometimes made through negotiations, conflict resolution, and strategic communication aimed at maintaining public confidence in a campaign.
His remarks come amid ongoing discussions about the Labour Party’s performance in the 2023 presidential election and the role played by key figures within the campaign. The election marked one of the most competitive contests in Nigeria’s recent political history, with the Obi-Datti ticket attracting significant support, particularly among young voters and urban populations.
Baba-Ahmed’s comments are expected to fuel further debate among Labour Party supporters and political analysts regarding the contributions of individual campaign figures and the factors that shaped the party’s performance during the election.
Arise News
