The Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 general election, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has announced plans to leave the party and join the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), citing internal conflicts and a perceived shift from its founding principles.
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed made the disclosure on Tuesday during an appearance on Politics Today, where he expressed dissatisfaction with developments within the Labour Party.
“I am leaving the Labour Party tomorrow. There is more to it. When there was real peace in the Labour Party, was when they posted back. They redeployed someone with a specific purpose and because of the antecedent of the individual to make life difficult, particularly for me. What the Labour Party stood for then is no longer what it is today,” he said.
He confirmed that his defection would take effect at midnight, adding that the Peoples Redemption Party would be his next political platform.
“I am leaving the Labour Party [at] midnight, and I am joining PRP. PRP is the new destination. PRP is the one with a history. It’s about 75 years old,” he stated.
The PRP, founded in 1978 by the late Aminu Kano, is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s oldest political movements, known for its progressive ideology and grassroots appeal.
Baba-Ahmed was the running mate to Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election. Their campaign under the Labour Party banner attracted significant youth support and disrupted the dominance of Nigeria’s two major parties, although they ultimately fell short at the polls.
His exit marks a notable shift in the country’s political landscape and raises fresh questions about the future direction of the Labour Party ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.