In a move that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political landscape, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, has launched a scathing critique against his former principal, Peter Obi, and PDP heavyweight Atiku Abubakar. ​
Speaking live on Trust TV’s Daily Politics, Baba-Ahmed openly accused the duo of failing the Nigerian people as opposition leaders, dismissing their political activities as mere posturing for power rather than genuine governance. ​During the interview, Baba-Ahmed did not mince words regarding how Obi and Atiku have handled their roles after the 2023 general elections.
He argued that addressing critical national crises such as widespread insecurity and economic hardship, solely through social media posts is vastly insufficient. ​”Tweeting about insecurity is child’s play,” Baba-Ahmed stated bluntly. “They are failing as opposition leaders and are merely office seekers.” ​
He further emphasized that true opposition requires active, structural engagement and a physical presence on the ground to hold the ruling government accountable, rather than issuing distant commentary from digital platforms. ​The public call-out has ignited intense debate across social media, particularly among the “Obidient” movement, which fiercely supported the Obi/Datti ticket in 2023. ​
While some political analysts view Baba-Ahmed’s comments as a necessary and realistic critique of Nigeria’s fragmented opposition, others see it as a significant fracture within the leadership of the Labour Party ahead of the next political cycle.
​Neither Peter Obi nor Atiku Abubakar have officially responded to the remarks, but the political fallout is already shaking up expectations for the alliance of opposition forces in the country.
