By  Valentine Obienyem

When Mr. Peter Obi chose Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election, many Nigerians welcomed the decision with enthusiasm. We were pleased by what we perceived as Datti’s intellect, exposure, experience and composure. We considered him an excellent complement to Obi’s character and vision.

During electioneering, he appeared to many of us as an uncompromising individualist, proud of his intellect and courage, making his political philosophy an inextricable part of his hectic political life. He possessed perspective and a cultivated mind. His superiority to his environment was too conscious and too manifest to escape notice.

At that time, Datti made friends readily, for he was attractive in person and manners, fascinating in conversation, and widely informed on issues of governance. If we try today to visualise the Datti character now on display, we find it difficult to reconcile him with the Datti of 2023. Is it truly the same Datti who, during the electioneering campaign, preached to us more by example than by words?

As partners in that historic campaign, they worked remarkably well together. It was one of the most rigorous and inspiring campaigns in Nigeria’s democratic history. Whatever judicial conclusions were eventually reached, many Nigerians remain convinced that the Obi-Datti ticket won the election. Beyond electoral outcomes, what stood out was the obvious mutual respect and shared purpose between the two men. They projected the image of leaders prepared to work together for the good of the country.

Because of the peculiar nature of Nigerian politics, many of us regarded Datti as a different kind of politician – one who would not easily be swayed by personal ambition or expediency. Indeed, throughout that period, he related well with Mr. Peter Obi. Had circumstances remained unchanged, they would most likely have contested the 2027 election together on the Labour Party platform.

Events, however, took a different turn. It became increasingly evident that the ruling establishment was determined to weaken and ultimately destroy the Labour Party as a viable political force. Recognising the changing political realities, Peter Obi chose to move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). It was a strategic decision. As the old saying goes, he who retreats today lives to fight another day.

Before that move, Obi kept Datti informed. Understandably, Datti’s major concern was whether he would remain Obi’s running mate in the new political arrangement. Obi was honest enough to explain that the ADC had its own internal dynamics and that no individual could guarantee such an outcome. Since Obi himself lacked the authority to make that promise, he could not offer false assurances. It was apparently from that point that their relationship began to deteriorate.

Indeed, while discussions were ongoing about possible political platform after the hawks invaded the ADC, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) was among the parties being considered. Datti quickly aligned himself with the PRP, evidently positioning himself to remain Obi’s running mate should that option materialise. There was nothing unusual about seeking political relevance, but it revealed that his overriding concern had become his personal political future.

Like millions of Nigerians, Datti knew the extraordinary momentum Peter Obi generated in 2023. He also knew that the movement had only grown stronger. That explains why remaining attached to Obi politically became so important.

Eventually, however, broader national considerations prevailed. There was an overwhelming demand across the country for a broader coalition capable of producing genuine national unity. It was in response to this popular yearning that Mr. Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso began working together. Ironically, this was an alliance many Nigerians had desired even in 2023. Today, that aspiration is gradually becoming a reality, and many citizens have welcomed it. Both men bring considerable strengths to the table.

Peter Obi brings credibility, prudence, competence and an unmatched reputation for integrity. He also commands perhaps the largest organic political movement in contemporary Nigerian history. The Obidient Movement is equally unprecedented. It consists of Nigerians across ethnic, religious and regional divides who believe Peter Obi represents the kind of competent, compassionate and accountable leadership capable of rebuilding the country.

Kwankwaso equally brings immense political experience. His record as Governor of Kano State remains one of the most discussed in the country, particularly in education, infrastructure and human capital development. More importantly, he commands the Kwankwasiyya Movement, one of Nigeria’s strongest grassroots political organisations, made up of committed supporters who invest their own time and resources in advancing their political ideals rather than waiting to be mobilised.

The emergence of this broader political alignment inevitably altered Datti’s political calculations. Unfortunately, his response has been disappointing. Today, he goes about in boisterous political excitement, issuing statements against Peter Obi. Nigerians have watched this transformation with incredulity. Certainly, it is this profound change that has led many Nigerians to wonder what has become of the Datti they admired in 2023.

Those of us who admired him expected him to appreciate the larger strategic picture and continue supporting the cause he had publicly championed. There was every reason to believe that his experience and contributions would still be valued in any future administration. That, at least, have been Peter Obi’s thinking. Datti, however, seems to have taken a different path.

After the 2023 election, I became aware of some of the inducements offered to Peter Obi to abandon the course he had chosen. He rejected them repeatedly because he preferred to remain intellectually and politically free. He chose, as it were, to beg in freedom rather than decay in bondage. That steadfastness explains why many Nigerians continue to repose unusual confidence in him.

“Men lie most when they govern states,” my literary mentor Will Durant once wrote. Indeed, the political arena routinely compels individuals to abandon truth for short-term gain. It is the very dynamic that fuels the public displays of figures like Daniel Bwala, Bayo Onanuga, Femi Fani-Kayode, Reno Omokri, and Kenneth Okonkwo. It even emboldens opportunistic critics like the Omasi born  Dr. Chukwudi Kpontus Okafor – a man expelled from three seminaries for sexual perversion –  to launch his own attacks. When one analyzes the latest barrage directed at Peter Obi by Datti Baba-Ahmed, Durant’s warning ring truer than ever.

One of the most serious allegations against Peter Obi is that he demolished a mosque while serving as Governor of Anambra State. That allegation is false. The mosque in Onitsha, frequently cited in this regard, was not demolished by Obi. On the contrary, he played a significant role in facilitating its renovation. Following the 2023 presidential election, when these allegations resurfaced, the Chief Imam of the Onitsha Central Mosque, Sheikh Abdulrahman Sani, told Obi during a visit: “This mosque was rebuilt by you when it was demolished years back,” adding that Obi consistently identified with the Muslim community, visited them during religious festivities, and sponsored Muslim pilgrims from Anambra State to perform the Hajj. In the same period, the Coalition of Northern Groups in Anambra dismissed claims that Obi demolished mosques or drove out Northerners, maintaining that Hausa residents lived peacefully throughout his administration. Likewise, the Hausa community’s spokesperson in Onitsha, Barr. Mahmud Imam, affirmed their confidence in Obi’s leadership, saying they supported him because they had experienced his fairness firsthand and had no regrets. These statements, made after the 2023 election by respected Muslim and Northern leaders in Anambra, are verifiable. Why, then, promote a false narrative capable of inflaming religious tensions?

Equally misleading is the claim regarding identity cards supposedly issued exclusively to Muslims or to Hausa residents.The truth is that Peter Obi’s administration introduced identity cards for residents of Anambra State without discrimination. I personally possess one.  The picture is attached. It was not designed for any ethnic or religious group. The allegation that Obi issued separate identity cards to Hausa residents is entirely false. Even respected leaders within the northern community in Anambra have publicly refuted such claims.

These are precisely the kinds of falsehoods that deepen suspicion and division in a country already burdened by ethnic and religious tensions. It is regrettable that someone many regarded as enlightened and principled would lend credibility to such narratives.

Religion and ethnicity have long been convenient tools in the hands of those who profit from Nigeria’s divisions. Whenever citizens begin to unite around issues of good governance, some politicians resort to exploiting these fault lines. It is unfortunate that Datti is now employing the very tactics many believed he would reject.

Datti also suggested that he was the person who introduced Peter Obi to Northern Nigeria. That claim is difficult to sustain. Is he seriously suggesting that a man who had governed Anambra State for eight years, served as Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, and had become a national political figure required such an introduction? The statement bears the familiar exaggeration that sometimes accompanies political rivalry.

Peter Obi’s public life demonstrates the opposite of ethnic or religious prejudice. He is perhaps one of Nigeria’s most detribalised political leaders. Throughout his campaigns, he has consistently spoken of Nigeria as one nation whose prosperity depends on the success of every region. His repeated emphasis on transforming Northern Nigeria into the nation’s agricultural powerhouse reflects this inclusive vision.

Even Datti himself acknowledged this at one of his more candid moments when he described Obi as a leader whose prudence, discipline and sincerity distinguished him from the rest. One is therefore left wondering what has changed. If those qualities deserved public praise then, what justifies their present repudiation?

Rather than promote ideas capable of uniting Nigerians around development, productivity and shared prosperity, Datti now appears preoccupied with narratives that accentuate division. That is unfortunate, not only for him but for the country.

Political disagreements are inevitable. They should, however, be conducted with honesty and a commitment to truth. Nigeria has suffered enough from politics built on misinformation, ethnicity and religious manipulation. Those who genuinely seek to lead should rise above such tactics and place national interest above personal disappointment.

It is fitting to end with one question – a question increasingly being asked by thoughtful Nigerians: What is Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed actually up to?

By Moses Paul

Today, I bring a final and deliberate closure to my participation in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Chairmanship Election held on 21st February 2026.

Following the judgment of the FCT Area Council Election Appeal Tribunal, I have decided to bring this legal and political journey to an end and to move forward with hope and purpose.

My decision to proceed from the Election Tribunal to the Appeal Tribunal was never about personal ambition. It was about principle. It was about my conviction that our democracy is only as strong as our willingness to insist that the law be obeyed and that every vote cast by the people should count.

The FCT Area Council election process is unique. Unlike most election petitions in Nigeria, where further appeals may proceed to the Supreme Court, the Appeal Tribunal is the final judicial authority in Area Council election disputes. It was therefore important to me, for the sake of posterity and the development of our electoral jurisprudence, to pursue every lawful step available.

One aspect of the proceedings particularly concerned us. The Appeal Tribunal delivered its judgment while reserving its reasons for a later date. Ordinarily, within Nigeria’s judicial tradition, it is the Supreme Court that possesses the latitude to deliver a decision before issuing its reasons. This unusual development formed part of the many questions that arose throughout this process.

Equally fundamental was our contention that the Election Tribunal lacked the jurisdiction prescribed by the Electoral Act 2026. The Act clearly stipulates the composition of the Tribunal, and we maintained throughout that this mandatory requirement was not complied with. In law, jurisdiction is not a technicality; it is the very foundation upon which every judicial proceeding rests. This remains a matter of principle that I believe history, legal scholars, and future reforms will continue to examine.

Beyond the legal questions, I remain convinced, from the reports of our polling agents, our independent collation, and the information available to us throughout the electoral process, that the voice of many AMAC residents deserved a more faithful reflection. I have consistently held this position, and I do so today without bitterness, resentment, or ill will toward anyone.

However, there comes a time when every servant of the people must recognise that service is greater than office. My commitment to AMAC, to the Federal Capital Territory, and to Nigeria has never depended on holding political office. It has always depended on serving people.

I therefore close this chapter with peace in my heart and renewed determination to continue contributing to nation-building through the Free Nigeria Foundation, my political party, and every legitimate platform available to me. Whether through education, healthcare, youth development, civic engagement, humanitarian service, or public advocacy, my commitment to building a better AMAC, a stronger FCT, and a greater Nigeria remains unwavering.

I express my deepest gratitude to every member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); every volunteer; every ward, polling unit, and campaign coordinator; every supporter across the twelve wards of AMAC; every donor; every observer; every young person who believed in our vision; and the countless Nigerians, many of whom I may never meet, whose prayers, encouragement, sacrifices, and quiet acts of support sustained this journey.

I extend my profound appreciation to Mr Peter Obi, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, HE. Rotimi Amaechi, Senator David Mark, Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe, Dr Kashim Imam, Gov. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chief Ralph Nwosu, our national leadership, the FCT leadership of our party, members of the legal team, campaign officials, civil society partners, the media, election observers, and every individual who stood for the ideals of democracy throughout this process.

I also extend my appreciation to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agencies, the election officials who carried out their duties in often difficult circumstances, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, leaders of other political parties, my fellow candidates, and indeed everyone whose role, whether in support of my candidacy or in opposition to it, formed part of this democratic exercise. Democracy is strengthened not only by those who agree with us but also by those who challenge us.

To those who voted for me, thank you for your confidence.

To those who did not, thank you for participating in our democracy.

To those who opposed me politically, I bear no resentment. Our democracy is richer because citizens are free to hold different opinions and pursue different visions for our country.

This campaign was never merely about winning an election. It was about proving that ideas matter, integrity matters, institutions matter, and that ordinary Nigerians can continue to stand for justice, accountability, and responsible leadership.

I leave this chapter without anger. I leave it with gratitude. I leave it with valuable lessons. Most importantly, I leave it with enduring hope.

Nigeria is greater than any election, any political party, any office, or any individual. Our democratic journey is still unfolding, and I remain convinced that truth, justice, constitutionalism, and the will of the people will ultimately prevail.

As for me, I will continue to serve. I will continue to build. I will continue to believe in the promise of our nation.

May God bless the people of AMAC.

May God bless the Federal Capital Territory.

May God bless all those who strive daily for a stronger democracy.

And may God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Dr. Paul was ADC Chairmanship Candidate Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Election 2026