Datti Baba-Ahmed, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) vice-presidential candidate, has clarified that former presidential candidate Peter Obi was fully informed before he attended the recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting led by Julius Abure.
Speaking during an interview, Datti said that although he is not a party leader, his actions were guided by responsibility and the need to uphold leadership values, especially in times of crisis.
“This is what leadership is about. There are times you belong to everybody so long as you are a leader,” he said, referencing the “Doctrine of Necessity” as justification for his attendance.
Datti explained that Peter Obi’s schedule is often very tight, and in situations where something important needs to be done, he feels a personal obligation to act in Obi’s interest and that of the party.
“Whatever I do, I carry him along. He is aware of everything I do. I told him I was going to the Abure-led Labour Party NEC meeting,” he said.
Datti also described Obi as someone who trusts others to take initiative, suggesting that his attendance at the meeting was not out of defiance but part of a shared understanding.
His comments come amid ongoing divisions within the Labour Party over leadership and internal direction. By affirming Obi’s awareness and support, Datti aims to calm speculation about rifts within the party’s top ranks.
