As Nigeria’s political landscape begins to stir in anticipation of the 2027 general elections, a familiar voice from the 2023 race is sounding the alarm. Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, running mate to Peter Obi under the Labour Party banner in the last presidential election, has issued a bold piece of advice to the emerging opposition alliance:
Don’t underestimate Bola Tinubu—and don’t recycle Atiku Abubakar.In a candid interview with Trust TV, Baba-Ahmed warned the newly forged coalition backing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against fielding former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—who has contested the presidency six times and is reportedly eyeing a seventh bid.
He said Atiku’s political blueprint is too familiar to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), making him easy to defeat.> “If you bring out Atiku, they [APC] know how to work against him,” Baba-Ahmed said.
You need a candidate they don’t understand, someone they can’t catch.”—🔍 A Strategic Warning Disguised as Counsel Baba-Ahmed praised President Bola Tinubu’s political patience and long-term strategy, calling him a rare kind of tactician who waited 16 years to actualize his dream of becoming president.
Any coalition that is coming together has to realise how powerful this individual called Tinubu is. He has done what nobody else has done,” Baba-Ahmed stated.He then posed a direct challenge to the ADC coalition: Can anyone in their ranks match Tinubu’s political resilience and calculated patience?
A Clear Nod to Obi while not directly dismissing the ADC coalition, Baba-Ahmed pointedly steered the conversation toward Peter Obi. He argued that Obi, his 2023 presidential partner, should not settle for a vice-presidential role again.
The position of VP is very big. Anyway, I wanted to be—and I was rigged out. But I think Peter Obi should not be a VP, having gotten a disputed 10 million votes.”His message was unmistakable: Obi should be the face of the opposition, not Atiku.
Breaking the Coalition Myth Baba- Ahmed also challenged the prevailing narrative that only a united coalition can defeat APC in 2027. Using the 2023 elections as a reference point, he recalled how the Labour Party held its ground without any alliance and still managed to shake both APC and PDP.
Coalition is good, but in 2023, we defeated APC and PDP. There was no coalition in the Labour Party.”This points to rising tensions within the opposition ranks—between older political actors like Atiku and newer, more populist figures like Obi.
What Next for the ADC?As political talks continue behind closed doors, the question remains: Will the ADC and its allies listen to Datti’s warning—or fall back on old familiar faces? According to him, unseating Tinubu in 2027 will require a fresh face, unexpected strategy, and political humility—not recycled candidates and failed blueprints.
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