The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has officially disowned comments made by its former vice presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, in which he described the administration of President Bola Tinubu as “questionably constitutional.”
In a statement released to the press on Saturday in Kaduna, LP’s National Secretary, Umar Ibrahim, delivered the party’s position. The statement, signed by LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Arabambi Abayomi, made it clear that the views expressed by Baba-Ahmed were entirely his own and not those of the party.
According to Abayomi, the Labour Party sees Baba-Ahmed’s remarks as undemocratic and potentially dangerous, especially in a time when the country needs peace and unity. He said that while the party contested the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, it followed all legal procedures up to the Supreme Court, which upheld Tinubu’s victory.
“For the interest and peace of the nation, the Labour Party accepted the judgment of the Supreme Court,” he said. “This was not because we were pleased but because of the finality of the Supreme Court’s judgement. The party has since moved on.”
Abayomi expressed shock over what he described as an unauthorized meeting held in Abuja on April 9, allegedly led by Governor Alex Otti of Abia State and the LP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi. He noted that Baba-Ahmed once again used the platform to challenge the legitimacy of Tinubu’s presidency, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling.
He also referred to Baba-Ahmed’s recent interview on a national television station, where the former vice-presidential candidate reportedly stated, “The appointments they are making are fake and illegal. The paraphernalia of government they are enjoying, destroying our country, and spending our money is only for a little time.”
Abayomi warned that such statements could incite unrest and be interpreted as a call for civil disobedience. “We think there should be a limit to whipping up the public sentiments against a legitimate government,” he noted.
He compared the situation to the events leading to the Arab Spring, stressing that political leaders must avoid language that can fuel unrest. He also pointed out that Baba-Ahmed had in the past accused the Tinubu government of planning to break Nigeria into six autonomous regions and of causing widespread hardship.
