Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, Peter Obi’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election, has questioned how Rabiu Kwankwaso would convince Northerners to support an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket ahead of the 2027 election.
Datti, who spoke during an interview, said it would be “very unlikely” for the Muslim North to support Obi, based on the challenges he encountered while campaigning for the Labour Party candidate in 2023.
“I said it is very unlikely that the North will support Peter Obi. Very unlikely, because I know what I have faced. If you want me to repeat, when I jumped onto the ticket, I had to contend immediately with ID card,” he said.
He also questioned how Kwankwaso would handle the issues he previously raised against Obi when the two politicians were political rivals.
Datti recalled that he personally worked to take Obi to different parts of Northern Nigeria, including Borno, Kano and Zaria, in an effort to build support for his candidacy.
“I knew how and what I used to get Peter Obi across. Like I said, all the way to Shehu of Borno. Do you know Shehu of Borno? At least historically, do you know the history of Borno? Islam was in Borno 400 years before it even came to the Sokoto.”
He further recalled his efforts to introduce Obi to influential figures and communities in the region.
“From Borno, that is when they got that idea. I smuggled Peter Obi to Borno, to the Caliphate, to Kano, to Zaria, to market him. So I sorted that problem of ID card, mosque demolition.”
Datti also questioned whether Kwankwaso would show the same level of commitment he claimed to have demonstrated during the 2023 campaign.
“Because I took myself as a staff of Peter Obi. I considered myself as staff. Call me 2 a.m., I will jump up. Call me 4 a.m., I will jump up. Call me 6 a.m., I will jump up.”
He concluded by questioning whether factors such as age, ego and seniority could affect the ability of political figures to work together.
“So will age allow, will ego, will seniority, will all those things allow him?”
His remarks have generated reactions online, with some Nigerians questioning why he continues to comment on Obi, while others argued that political alliances can change despite past disagreements.
@ManOfVawulence: Kwankwaso will give them Rice 😂
@PrimeGabriel: Which party is this man now?
@NathAdeChima: So this guy wey no get electoral value can remarked Obi too.
@EdWard: Politics na no permanent enemy, no permanent friend. Why this man come dey attack PO laidis.
@MiraGabriel: Ex wey no wan move on. 🤦🏾♀️
@KingFomz: This dude just wanna be popular make e no be like say dem don forget me 😂😂😂
@ZakkaAyidakyauTwaShesnubwoDozhiZa: So did our before VP no really get sense