The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has unveiled Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed as his running mate on Friday. The 46-year-old was a former lawmaker who represented Kaduna North Senatorial district. He is also the Proprietor of Baze University, Abuja and Baba-Ahmed University Kano. Until recently, he was a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Baba-Ahmed’s announcement was coming barely 24 hours after the Director-General, Peter Obi Campaign Organisation, Doyin Okupe, announced his withdrawal as the vice-presidential candidate of the party. The unveiling was earlier slated for Thursday, but the ceremony was postponed because Obi, who travelled to Maiduguri and was expected back in Abuja on Thursday had his flight cancelled.
Baba-Ahmed was born in Zaria, Kaduna State. He is among the thirty-three children of his father, Baba Ahmed, who was an Arab cattle-trader from modern day Mauritania, who later became a notable professor and expert on Islamic jurisprudence.
Baba-Ahmed, who has a BSc and MSc in Economics from the University of Maiduguri in Borno State, worked in the security Printing and Minting, Lagos before venturing into politics.
Baba-Ahmed was elected as House of Representatives member for Zaria Federal Constituency on the platform of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in 2003. While in the position, he became quite known for speaking out against corruption and the Third Term Agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
According to Obi during the unveiling the party will anchor its manifesto in coming days on the 17 goals of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
