Former vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider any plans of seeking re-election in the forthcoming 2027 presidential polls, declaring that the era of what he described as “electoral manipulation and bad governance” is coming to an end in Nigeria.
Speaking during a televised interview on Arise TV on Friday, Baba-Ahmed, who was the running mate to Mr. Peter Obi in the 2023 general election, stated that Nigerians are becoming increasingly conscious of the need for true democracy and are likely to reject any leadership that does not align with national interest and integrity. He asserted that it would be in the best interest of President Tinubu not to contest again, given the prevailing political and socio-economic mood in the country.
“I expect President Tinubu to throw in the towel. If he is truly as politically strategic as people claim, then he should know that his time is up,” Baba-Ahmed said. He continued, “For someone to have planned so far back as 2007, leading up to the 2023 electoral outcome—which I’ve always described as an electoral heist—it’s clear he is a smart political operator. But I am not commending him. I am only stating the obvious.”
Baba-Ahmed further alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has consistently failed to deliver on its promises, particularly in the areas of anti-corruption and national security. He maintained that just as former President Muhammadu Buhari failed in fulfilling the core promises of his administration, President Tinubu has also shown no convincing signs of charting a different course.
“It’s now proven that APC is a party built on deceit. Buhari neither fought corruption nor secured the country, and Tinubu is following the same path,” he added. He predicted that the APC would lose in 2027, citing a growing national resolve to put an end to what he called recycled and ineffective leadership.
Although he refrained from naming individuals, Baba-Ahmed hinted that two potential candidates pose a serious threat to President Tinubu’s political future, describing them as his “nemesis.” He expressed optimism that the electorate would unite in 2027 to demand accountability, competence, and genuine democratic values.
“I foresee Nigerians uniting around the idea that if you cannot practice democracy in its true form, then Nigeria is not for you. For the first time, we will see the people choosing not to give room to bad leadership,” he said. “This will be the beginning of our healing process—our recovery, our unity. We’ll begin to see each other as brothers and sisters again. Their time is up.”
Baba-Ahmed’s remarks come amid ongoing debates about the state of governance, rising economic hardship, and questions over the legitimacy of Nigeria’s current leadership structure. As the nation inches closer to another election cycle, political tensions and calls for reform continue to dominate public discourse.
