- Farouk stated that the LP will not hesitate to give Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed a chance to contest for President
The Labour Party has expressed its displeasure at Peter Obi’s continued romance with leaders of the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress, ADC.
The party said it may be forced to rethink its decision to give its presidential ticket to Obi if he does not show unflinching loyalty to the party.
It stated it will drop Obi as its presidential candidate if he continues to associate with the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Factional National Secretary of the Labour Party, LP, Umar Farouk, made this known on Wednesday during an interview with Trust TV.
Farouk stated that the LP will not hesitate to give Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed a chance to contest for President if Obi continues on his current path, adding that the party’s presidential ticket is not reserved for anyone.
The factional national secretary declared Baba-Ahmed, the party’s 2023 Vice Presidential candidate, is as qualified as his principal, Obi.
“Datti is as qualified to contest for the presidency as Peter Obi. So, the seat of that candidacy is not reserved for anybody. It is open for a competitive contest.
“If Datti is willing to aspire for presidency and he wants to do that under the Labour Party, we will open it. Come and buy the form, mobilise his support and then get elected.
“But the only thing is that if those people didn’t come back to us, they lose that opportunity because there’s no way you’ll continue to romance with other political parties and then you still come back and your one leg is in the Labour Party. No, ab initio, you may be disqualified,” he said.
Farouk’s comment is coming barely a week after Baba-Ahmed declared his interest in the 2027 presidential race, should Obi decide not to contest.
However, Baba-Ahmed, who said he is not desperate to become President, also reaffirmed his support for Obi, adding that there is no rift between him and his principal.
He stated that the former governor of Anambra State deserves another chance to contest on the platform of the Labour Party.