Baba-Ahmed made the remarks in a video shared by SYMFONI TV after his recent move to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), where he reflected on the circumstances that led to his emergence as Obi’s running mate under the Labour Party in the 2023 election and what he believes contributed to the eventual outcome of the contest.
According to Baba-Ahmed, he had already formed the view before the 2023 election that power should return to Southern Nigeria in the interest of fairness and political balance. He said this conviction shaped his political calculations at the time and influenced his willingness to support Obi’s candidacy.
He disclosed that before becoming Obi’s running mate, he had initially planned to pursue a different political ambition in Kaduna State. However, those plans changed after Obi reached out to him with an offer to join the presidential ticket.
Baba-Ahmed said he was outside Nigeria when Obi contacted him and asked him to serve as his running mate. He explained that at the time, many politicians were reluctant to associate themselves with Obi because they considered his candidacy politically uncertain and potentially risky. Despite that, he said he chose to accept the offer because he believed it was the right thing to do.
According to him, his decision was not based on personal ambition but on what he described as a moral obligation to support a cause rooted in justice, equity, and national inclusion.
He said his role in the campaign went beyond simply serving as a running mate, noting that he also worked behind the scenes to address internal issues within the movement. Baba-Ahmed explained that part of his intervention was aimed at correcting misunderstandings and political narratives that, if left unresolved, could have deepened divisions between Northern and Southern supporters of the campaign.
He suggested that some strategic and political missteps affected the campaign and ultimately weakened its chances at the polls. Reflecting on the election outcome, Baba-Ahmed claimed that the result could have been different if his advice had been fully implemented.
“If he had gone by what I said Tinubu would not be at the villa today,” he said, in reference to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The former vice-presidential candidate used the comment to suggest that strategic decisions taken during the campaign played a major role in shaping the final outcome of the election, which saw Tinubu emerge victorious.
Despite his reflections on the missed opportunity in 2023, Baba-Ahmed said he is not driven by desperation to become president. He maintained that personal ambition is not his primary motivation, but added that he remains willing to serve in any capacity if given the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to national development and help address Nigeria’s challenges.