Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the 2023 Vice Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, has stirred political debate following his recent comments on the direction of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election and potential realignments among opposition figures.
In a trending video clip, Datti Baba-Ahmed said the natural and just expectation for the 2027 presidential contest is for the presidency to rotate to the South.
“In 2027, the default position of thinking is that the presidency should be from the South,” he said, aligning with the principle of zoning and equity that has shaped Nigeria’s political structure for years.
He raised concerns about the implications of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar possibly running under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a move that has been widely speculated.
“So if Atiku takes the ADC ticket, how will Amaechi and Peter Obi react?” Datti queried, referencing two prominent Southern political figures—former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.
Datti, who ran alongside Peter Obi in 2023, clearly stated his opposition to Obi accepting a vice-presidential position in any future coalition.
“I think Peter Obi shouldn’t be a VP,” he asserted.
His statement is being interpreted as a warning to opposition forces against undermining the South’s right to produce the next president and as an endorsement of Obi’s political standing as a frontline presidential contender, not a subordinate.
As the 2027 election draws nearer, talks of political mergers and strategic alliances are intensifying. Datti’s remarks are seen as a signal that the Labour Party is positioning itself to lead, rather than follow, in any future coalition.
Observers say his comments may also be aimed at preventing a repeat of past political arrangements where Southern candidates were asked to play second fiddle to Northern aspirants, despite regional power-sharing expectations.
