By Ikpommwosa Odigie
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has declared himself a “peacemaker on a peace mission” as internal crisis continues to rock the party.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Baba-Ahmed stressed that the Labour Party is not one to be abandoned, assuring Nigerians that steps are being taken behind the scenes to restore unity.
“Labour Party is not a party to walk away from, not a party to be ignored. I assure you that everyone involved in what I do is fully aware,” he said.
He emphasized his role as a “positive catalyst,” saying his goal is to bring stakeholders together to “understand themselves and make good efforts again to rescue Nigeria.”
Baba-Ahmed added that the Labour Party, like others, has been a victim of what he described as “the captors of the Nigerian state,” and stressed the need for committed leadership and internal dialogue.
Reacting to concerns raised by Yunusa Tanko, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, who claimed Obi’s supporters were unaware of Baba-Ahmed’s meeting with the Abure-led faction, Baba-Ahmed clarified:
“I don’t talk to Mr. Tanko; I speak directly with our boss, His Excellency Peter Obi, and he is aware. Perhaps he has not briefed the Tankos around him.”
The Labour Party has been embroiled in a leadership tussle, which recently intensified following the emergence of Senator Nenadi Usman as interim national chairman during a party congress. Senator Darlington Nwokocha was also named interim national secretary.
However, the legitimacy of the new committee has been challenged. National Youth Leader Kennedy Ahanotu described the move as unconstitutional, insisting that Julius Abure remains the party’s national chairman.
While a recent Supreme Court judgment declined to affirm Abure as chairman, it held that internal leadership matters fall outside the jurisdiction of the courts and should be handled within the party.
Despite the legal uncertainty, prominent LP figures such as Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti are reported to align with the Nenadi Usman-led interim leadership.