Datti Baba-Ahmed, the 2023 Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, has questioned why former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai would publicly disclose an alleged interception involving him.

Dr Baba-Ahmed described the disclosure as an act of “sheer arrogance,” suggesting that the amount of money allegedly spent could have emboldened El-Rufai to make such a statement.

“I mean, if not sheer arrogance from money you’ve spent, how dare, on earth, even if you’re drunk, would you say something like that?” he asked.

He also broadened his criticism to the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, alleging that financial influence played a major role in determining access to power and influence under the former president.

“Even if you’re insane, they have spent enough money in Buhari’s house, the most corrupt, immoral institution, organ in Nigeria,” Baba-Ahmed alleged.

He further claimed that President Bola Tinubu recognised and exploited what he described as weaknesses within Buhari’s administration and among those around the former president.

El-Rufai was governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 and served as a prominent member of Buhari’s administration before Tinubu assumed office as president in May 2023.

Baba-Ahmed was the running mate to Peter Obi on the Labour Party platform in the 2023 presidential election. The pair finished third, behind Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.