Former vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Datti Baba Ahmed has warned critics against causing issues between him and the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi.

Datti spoke in an interview with Channels TV on Sunday while responding to criticism that he was unable to win his ward and Local Government for the Labour Party in 2023.

He said Obi, who was the presidential candidate of the LP in 2023, remains in his list of respected politicians.

According to Datti, though they have both parted and are now in different political parties, they have mutual respect for each other.

He said, “Nobody will cause a problem between me and my boss, Peter Obi. We can be in different parties today but I still have respect for him as someone who governed and someone who doesn’t give shishi.

“Peter Obi and I have mutual respect for each other, so nobody will come between us”.

Chairmen of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, across local government areas in Lagos State have called on the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, to respect the outcome of the party’s governorship primary and uphold the wishes of members.

The appeal was contained in a communiqué issued after a meeting of the Forum of Local Government Area Chairmen of the ADC in Lagos State.

The statement, signed by the forum’s Chairman, Anaere Ugochukwu, and Secretary, Oluwabukola Okeowo, alleged attempts to override the choice made by party members during the governorship primary process.

The forum expressed confidence in the leadership of the Lagos State ADC Chairman, George Ashiru, as well as members of the State Executive Committee, commending their role in managing the affairs of the party.

According to the chairmen, the credibility and growth of any political party depend largely on its commitment to internal democracy and respect for the decisions of its members.

They maintained that votes cast by party faithful should remain the ultimate determinant of candidate selection and should not be replaced by actions capable of undermining members’ confidence in the party.

“As leaders at the grassroots, we believe the strength and integrity of any political party are rooted in adherence to democratic values. The collective decision of members must be respected at all times,” the communiqué stated.

The forum argued that the ADC’s prospects in future elections would depend significantly on the trust and confidence of its members and supporters across the state.

It urged the party’s national leadership to carefully examine concerns surrounding the Lagos governorship primary and ensure that any decision taken aligns with the party’s constitution and democratic ideals.

The chairmen warned that actions perceived as disregarding the wishes of party members could weaken the party’s grassroots support base and affect its electoral fortunes.

They further appealed to the National Secretariat and the NWC to allow the mandate freely given by members during the primary election to stand, describing it as the best route to preserving unity and stability within the party.

According to the forum, respecting the outcome of the primary would strengthen the ADC’s chances of emerging as a major political force in Lagos State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group added that adherence to democratic principles remains essential if the party hopes to consolidate its growing support and position itself for electoral success in the state.