- Safiu Kehinde
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the running of the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has dumped the party for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
This is coming under the heels of the Labour Party’s national convention which saw the emergence of Sen. Nenadi Usman as the new national chairman of the party days after the Supreme Court’s affirmation of Julius Abure’s removal as the leader of the party.
NPO Reported that Usman was on Tuesday elected as the Labour Party’s new national leader during the party’s national convention held in Umuahia, Abia state.
Having pitched his tent with the Abure-led faction during the leadership crisis of the party, Baba-Ahmed announced his defection from the party as he declared the PRP as his new home.
The former Kaduna lawmaker made the announcement while speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday evening.
While citing the rich history of the PRP, which is one of the oldest and surviving political party in Nigeria, as reason for his decision to join the party, Baba-Datti accused the President Bola Tinubu-led administration of destroying major opposition parties in Nigeria.
He maintained that Obi and other politicians who have earlier left the party are not to be blamed for their decision.
“What is more important to them is destroy political parties.
“So, I don’t blame Obi or anybody for going where they think. I’m leaving Labour Party midnight and I’m joining PRP.
“PRP is the new destination. It is the one with history. it is about 75 years.” Baba-Ahmed said.
Meanwhile, the ex-Kaduna lawmaker ruled out his chance of contesting for the presidency as he claimed being contented with his achievements.
He however vowed to support a southern and Christian candidate for the 2027 election.
“I will go to the PRP, and we will still work with a genuinely Southern possibly Christian candidate.
“With all modesty, other people have come to tell me that if you are there without holding any political office, you are okay.
“I’m so happy and please with what God Almighty has helped me to achieve at my very young age.
“At 33, House of Reps. At 41 Senate, university licence, and other university license. Biggest private hospital in Africa and the list goes on and on. Why do I have to be president or vice president.
“By the way, though I’m not that deeply, I’m a standard regular Muslim.
“But I know that the Quran says people beget leaders that exactly what they are. And I know how different I am from average Nigerians. I don’t give bribes.” Baba-Ahmed added.