Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi has responded to criticism from his former running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, over his capacity to improve Nigeria if elected president in 2027.
Baba-Ahmed, who was Obi’s running mate on the Labour Party ticket in the 2023 presidential election, recently said none of the major politicians seeking to replace President Bola Tinubu would be able to transform the country.
When asked specifically whether his assessment included Obi, Baba-Ahmed replied in the affirmative.
Speaking in an interview previewed by Arise Television on Monday, Obi countered the assessment by pointing to his record as governor of Anambra State.
The former Anambra governor said his administration improved the state in critical areas of development and argued that the experience demonstrated his ability to deliver similar changes at the national level.
“I passed through Anambra State, and I improved the state in critical areas of development. And I can do the same thing in Nigeria,” Obi said.
Obi said that, if elected president, his administration would focus on reducing the cost of governance, tackling corruption and waste, strengthening law and order and improving the functioning of political institutions.
He also pledged to ensure credible elections, saying electoral malpractice would not be tolerated under his watch.
The NDC candidate identified national unity and security as other priorities, alongside greater attention to healthcare, education and efforts to reduce poverty.
His response followed Baba-Ahmed’s criticism that the politicians contesting against Tinubu had, at different times, been part of the political establishment that contributed to Nigeria’s current challenges.
Baba-Ahmed, who has since taken a different political path from Obi, made the comments during an interview on the Mic On Podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye.
VOP TV Perspective
The exchange reflects growing differences among political figures who were previously aligned ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
For Obi, his record in Anambra remains a central part of his argument for seeking the presidency, while Baba-Ahmed’s criticism raises questions about whether past state-level performance is sufficient evidence of the capacity to govern a country as complex as Nigeria.
As the 2027 election approaches, voters will ultimately have to assess the records, policy proposals, experience and capacity of the various presidential candidates and determine which approach best addresses the country’s economic, security and social challenges.
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