Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, former Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, has initiated a reconciliation effort to mend internal divisions within the party.
On Monday, he met with Julius Abure, the factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, along with other members of his camp, in Abuja.
The meeting, which took place during the National Executive Committee (NEC) gathering of the Abure-led faction, marks a significant step toward restoring unity within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the NEC meeting, Baba-Ahmed emphasized his commitment to peace-building and party cohesion.
“Labour Party is not a party to walk away from. The successes, the history that the Labour Party of Nigeria has recorded is unique and unprecedented,” he stated.
Reflecting on the 2023 presidential election, Baba-Ahmed cited data that pointed to the party’s strong showing at the polls:
“We presented clear records and evidence of 10 million votes scored in the last election, thereafter reduced to 6.1 million votes.”
He criticized the broader political environment, suggesting that internal party conflicts are often the byproduct of systemic manipulation.
“The act of state capture is a more onerous task causing disunity and disaffection within political parties,” he added.
Reiterating his loyalty to the Labour Party, Baba-Ahmed declared his intent to reconcile differing viewpoints within the party.
“I am here as a peacemaker to reconcile divergent opinions,” he affirmed.
“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.”
He emphasized that any political alliances must align with the core values of the Labour Party and warned against being drawn into arrangements that could dilute its mission.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Baba-Ahmed expressed deep concern about the quality of leadership that emerged after the 2023 elections, making it clear that his focus is not just regime change but building a credible and effective alternative government.
He also addressed the issue of factional leadership within the Labour Party, acknowledging both the Nenadi Usman-led group and the Abure-led executive. However, he noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) currently recognizes 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 said.
On the status of Peter Obi within the party, Datti cited recent public comments as reassuring.
“I am glad also to note that from the comments of my boss, His Excellency Governor Peter Obi, he remains in the Labour Party.”
Concluding his address, Baba-Ahmed pledged to continue efforts to bring all factions of the party together.
“We must sit down, understand each other better and move forward,” he urged.
His reconciliation move is being seen as a critical step in reuniting a fractured party and setting a strong foundation for the 2027 electoral contest.
