Obi remains my boss, relationship intact – Datti Baba-Ahmed clarifies capacity remarks

Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed has reaffirmed that Peter Obi remains his “boss” and that their personal relationship is unbroken, even as he stands by his assessment that none of the leading contenders aiming to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027—including Obi—has the capacity to fix Nigeria.

Baba-Ahmed made the clarification on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast while responding to the backlash that followed his earlier interview with Seun Okinbaloye on the Mic On Podcast. In that conversation, he advised Tinubu to prepare to hand over power but insisted the current crop of challengers would not improve the country. When pressed on whether the verdict applied to his 2023 running mate, he replied: “Yes, including Peter Obi.”

The comment drew sharp criticism from Obi’s supporters, many of whom questioned how the man who shared a joint ticket with the former Anambra governor could now publicly doubt his ability to lead. Baba-Ahmed moved quickly to separate political judgement from personal ties.

“In reality, if you check what is between me and Peter Obi… first and foremost, Obi is my boss. I still call him my boss,” he said. He insisted the relationship remains close enough that a direct call would be answered almost immediately. “If not because I don’t like acting, I could call Peter Obi now and on the second or third ring, he will answer. ‘Hey, my brother Datti.’”

He went further, referencing the recent disruption of Obi’s convoy in Benue State. Obi had travelled to Makurdi on a humanitarian mission to visit families of victims of the June 2025 Yelwata massacre, in which more than 270 people were killed. His convoy was blocked near the airport by youths chanting “Obi go back,” forcing him to turn back. Obi described the obstruction as the work of hired thugs and later called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to intervene. The Benue State Government denied any involvement and accused Obi of making unfounded claims.

Baba-Ahmed said Obi knew he could have offered practical help. Demonstrating the conversation he would have had, he said: “Sir, what happened in Benue? Why didn’t you call me in Benue?” He added: “He knows I could have helped out in Benue, even where he is now. My relationship with Peter is solid.”

The clarification comes against a backdrop of shifting political alignments ahead of 2027. Baba-Ahmed and Obi jointly contested the 2023 presidential election on the Labour Party ticket and finished third. Both have since taken different paths. Obi has moved toward platforms such as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and has been linked with opposition coalition talks, while Baba-Ahmed has associated himself with the Peoples Redemption Party and has repeatedly stressed his political independence.

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In earlier interviews, Baba-Ahmed has said he joined forces with Obi in 2023 largely out of sympathy after other prominent politicians declined the running-mate role. He has also maintained that Obi “does not own my politics” and that mutual respect has survived their divergent choices. Obi, for his part, has pushed back against the capacity critique by pointing to his record as Anambra governor, insisting he improved critical areas of development and could replicate those results nationally if given the chance.

Baba-Ahmed’s latest remarks attempt to close the gap between personal loyalty and political realism. He continues to describe Obi as his boss and insists the personal bond remains intact, while refusing to walk back his broader judgement that the current field of presidential hopefuls falls short of what Nigeria needs. The exchange underscores the fluid and often personal nature of opposition politics as the 2027 race begins to take clearer shape.