Obi’s ex-running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, reveals ADC’s biggest challenge

Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has offered a critical take on the newly formed political coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The alliance, which was formally launched on Wednesday, features prominent opposition figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 LP presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, and other notable political leaders. Daily Trust previously reported that the coalition intends to use the ADC as a unified platform heading into future elections.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Thursday, Baba-Ahmed likened the initiative to the political groundwork that preceded the 2015 election, which culminated in the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Drawing a comparison with the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Baba-Ahmed noted that the ADC bloc lacks a consensus candidate at this stage—unlike the APC in 2015, which rallied early behind Muhammadu Buhari.

“There are structural misgivings in the coalition as it is today. Buhari was the distant anointed from ab initio (referring to APC in 2015). The convener (Tinubu) supported him. He understands that when Buhari leaves, he will become president,” he said.

“This opposition does not have a distant anointed (candidate). There will be a very close gap and tight struggle for it (presidential candidate). Possibly, not so clean primary and struggle for it. The question is what will be the aftermath,” he added.