Former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has announced his resignation from the party and his decision to join the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), citing internal crises and political interference.
Mr Baba-Ahmed made the disclosure on Tuesday during an appearance on Politics Today, confirming that his exit from the Labour Party Nigeria would take effect at midnight.
Mr Baba-Ahmed, who ran alongside Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election, said his decision was driven by internal disagreements and what he described as a departure from the party’s founding ideals.
“They redeployed someone to come with a specific purpose… to make life difficult, particularly for me. But what Labour Party stood for then is no longer what it is today,” he said.
He also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of undermining opposition parties rather than focusing on governance.
“We have had a government who has made its primary purpose the destruction of other political parties… instead of fighting insecurity and fixing our economy,” he said.
Declaring his next political step, Mr Baba-Ahmed described the PRP as a party with deep historical roots.
“I’m leaving Labour Party midnight tonight, and I’m joining PRP. PRP is the new destination… it’s about 75 years old,” he stated.
He added that he would work towards producing “a genuine southern, possibly Christian candidate” under the PRP platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
On whether he would contest for president, Baba-Ahmed remained non-committal, suggesting he was not under pressure to seek higher office.
“At 33, House of Reps; at 41, Senate… biggest private hospital in Africa, and the list goes on. Why do I have to be president or vice president?” he said.
His defection marks a significant shift within Nigeria’s opposition landscape, potentially impacting alignments ahead of the 2027 elections.
Analysts say the move could strengthen the PRP’s visibility while raising fresh questions about cohesion within the Labour Party.
