Datti Baba-Ahmed Slams ADC Coalition As Deceptive Ahead Of 2027 Elections.
Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the 2023 vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has publicly condemned the opposition coalition formed under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), labelling it a “grand deception” aimed at misleading Nigerians. The outspoken politician made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s *Politics Today* programme on Friday, 22 August 2025, as he reaffirmed his loyalty to the Labour Party and its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Baba-Ahmed, who served as Obi’s running mate in the 2023 general election, expressed dismay at the ADC coalition’s claims of rescuing Nigeria from underdevelopment. He argued that the coalition, which includes prominent figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, and ex-governors Nasir el-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola, is a façade for politicians who contributed to Nigeria’s challenges during the Muhammadu Buhari administration from 2015 to 2023. “They are deceiving us. The ADC is a deception. Those who ruined Nigeria between 2015 and 2023 cannot now come under a new platform and claim they want to fix the country,” he stated, pointing to what he described as a history of flawed leadership and electoral fraud that has fuelled insecurity and corruption.
The former senator for Kaduna North reiterated his commitment to the Labour Party, distancing himself from the ADC coalition despite Obi’s association with some of its members. “I am a Labour Party man, for God’s sake. I am Peter Obi’s man, and I want him to contest again in 2027,” Baba-Ahmed declared, expressing his desire to serve as Obi’s running mate once more. He urged Obi to remain with the Labour Party and contest the 2027 presidential election under its banner, dismissing the ADC as a platform driven by personal ambitions rather than genuine reform.
Baba-Ahmed’s comments come amid growing political realignments as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections. The ADC coalition, launched in July 2025, has positioned itself as a unified front to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC). However, Baba-Ahmed’s outspoken critique highlights internal tensions and scepticism about the coalition’s intentions. He accused the group of lacking a consistent strategy to address Nigeria’s pressing issues, such as insecurity, economic hardship, and institutional decay, which he linked to a “fraudulent electoral system” that has undermined national progress.
The Labour Party stalwart also took aim at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), calling the 2023 general election “fraudulent and bad” and inconsistent with Nigeria’s constitution. He refrained from dwelling on INEC’s shortcomings, stating, “I don’t have energy to spend on criticising INEC. Let their conscience judge them, let posterity judge them,” but warned that the nation’s electoral flaws continue to aggravate corruption and insecurity.
In response, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed Baba-Ahmed’s remarks as lacking substance, stating, “When he begins to make sense, we will respond.” The sharp rebuttal underscores the deepening rift between the ADC coalition and Labour Party loyalists, even as Obi navigates his political future amid speculation about his platform for 2027.
Baba-Ahmed’s outspoken stance has sparked widespread discussion, with many Nigerians viewing his comments as a call for authenticity in the opposition’s efforts to challenge the APC. As the 2027 elections draw nearer, his insistence on loyalty to the Labour Party and his critique of the ADC’s motives highlight the complexities of forming a united opposition in a politically fragmented landscape. For now, Baba-Ahmed remains steadfast in his support for Obi and the Labour Party, urging Nigerians to demand credible leadership and reject what he sees as opportunistic political manoeuvres.
