By Huldah Shado
The Labour Party’s internal crisis took a new twist on Monday as Datti Baba-Ahmed, the party’s 2023 vice presidential candidate, attended the National Executive Council (NEC), meeting of the Julius Abure-led faction in Abuja.
The party has been torn between two rival factions, one led by Abure and the other by Nenadi Usman.
Most elected officials, including Abia State Governor Alex Otti and presidential candidate Peter Obi, have largely aligned with the Usman-led camp.
Baba-Ahmed, however, said his presence at the Abure faction’s NEC meeting was to foster unity.
“I am here as a peacemaker and to reconcile divergent opinions,” he stated.
He also admitted to attending meetings with opposition groups exploring a possible coalition against the ruling party but clarified that it did not signal his defection.
“I am proud to say I attended meetings discussing coalition attempts in Nigeria. Morally, if your neighbourhood invites you to talk about security, you must attend,” he said.
He added, “If they discuss matters outside that, you’re free to return to your position. I remain a member of the Labour Party.”
