Northern Elders Forum, spokesperson, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has revealed why he will support the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
The National Director of Publicity and Advocacy of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has said that he will support Obi/Datti ticket if they are the best candidates in the 2023 presidential election.
Also: Northern Elders Disown Atiku Over Tribal Bigotry Comment Against Igbo, Yoruba
Newsonline reports that Baba-Ahmed, he will support Obi’s presidential ambition if he and his running mate are the best presidential candidates in 2023.
Hakeem, who spooke s during an interview on Channels TV.
He said, “I can only root for Obi and my younger brother Datti if they are the best candidates. You know I’m working on a project with Northern Elders Forum, which gives all the candidates a level playing ground.”
Baba-Ahmed further stated that eligible voters might be disenfranchised because of insecurity, adding that this might hinder the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from deploying for elections or people being unable to move around.
He added, “There is a huge problem that must be tackled decisively. If you look at the South East, IPOB, unknown gunmen, whatever are targeting people and moving freely. People are being prevented from voting because some people are burning INEC facilities.”
Obi is contesting against the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and several others.
Ahead of the 2023 general election, Peter Obi has been enjoying support from prominnient northern politicians and leaders, one of which is Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Recall that Babachir had, on Monday, stated that he supports Peter Obi, and will not support the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 election.
He also affirmed that he would not back any Fulani who would threaten Nigeria’s religious or ethnic cohesion.
According to Lawal, Atiku’s ambition would fail because it would entail a transfer of power from one Muslim Fulani president to another Muslim Fulani president, which he described as “the worst kind of Muslim-Muslim ticket.”
Therefore, he cautioned that if Atiku had his way, there would be ethnic dominance by one ethnic group over another, stating, “I remain a Peter Obi loyalist.”
