By Muhammad Mamman
Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation magazine and a key figure in Nigeria’s opposition politics, has sharply criticised Datti Baba-Ahmed, likening the former vice-presidential candidate to “a jilted lover” angered by political realignments.
Momodu’s comments came in response to Baba-Ahmed’s recent attack on members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), whom he described as “disgruntled politicians”.
Speaking amid growing manoeuvres ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 polls, announced his intention to run for president. During the declaration, he dismissed the ADC coalition, questioning the credibility and motivations of its members.
Reacting to the remarks, Momodu said Baba-Ahmed’s criticism appeared driven more by personal grievance than principled disagreement.
“He sounds aggrieved, like a jilted lover,” Momodu said, arguing that political coalitions and defections were a normal feature of democratic politics and should not be reduced to personal attacks.
The exchange highlights widening fractures within Nigeria’s opposition space, as politicians reposition themselves and form new alliances in preparation for the next election cycle.
With less than two years to the 2027 polls, rhetoric among opposition figures has intensified, raising questions about whether emerging coalitions can present a united front against the ruling party.
