Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Datti Baba-Ahmed has said that both Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar should not be described as opposition leaders, but as politicians primarily focused on contesting for office.
He made the statement on Thursday during an interview on Trust TV, where he spoke about Nigeria’s political climate and the outlook for the 2027 general elections.
Datti, who previously served as Peter Obi’s running mate under the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, said he still maintains a cordial relationship with the former Anambra governor and expects possible cooperation in future political engagements.
He, however, drew a distinction between what he described as genuine opposition politics and routine electoral participation.
According to him, opposition politics requires sustained scrutiny of government actions and continuous civic and political engagement, rather than activity that peaks only during election cycles.
He argued that both Obi and Atiku fall into the category of politicians seeking elective positions, rather than figures consistently applying pressure on government policies.
Datti also referenced his post-2023 election stance, saying efforts to maintain momentum around alleged constitutional breaches were not sustained by other leading political actors.
