Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the former Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider seeking re-election in 2027 if he considers himself a smart politician. Baba-Ahmed made the comments during an interview on Arise Television’s political program Prime Time, where he openly questioned Tinubu’s chances in the upcoming election.]
Baba-Ahmed, who has been critical of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), strongly suggested that the political landscape no longer favours the party and that Tinubu’s prospects of securing another term in office are slim. He said, “I expect Tinubu to throw in the towel if he is that smart politician that he turns out to be,” emphasizing his belief that the president’s re-election bid is unlikely to succeed.
The Labour Party chieftain, in a sarcastic tone, described Tinubu as a “super smart” strategist, referencing the president's political maneuvers dating back to 2007. Baba-Ahmed recalled how Tinubu supported various presidential candidates over the years, including Atiku Abubakar, Nuhu Ribadu, and Muhammadu Buhari, before eventually clinching power in 2023. He continued, “He skipped 2007 and jokingly made Atiku candidate, made Ribadu and somebody in 2011, made Buhari in 2015, Buhari won, and then skipped 2019 and they stole 2023. If he is that smart, everything is there for him that he’s going to lose 2027.” These remarks were aimed at highlighting what Baba-Ahmed perceives as Tinubu’s history of political maneuvering and his eventual loss in 2027, which he predicts based on the current political environment.
Baba-Ahmed did not stop at just criticizing Tinubu’s potential re-election bid but also expressed his belief that the president, like his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari, would fall short in fulfilling key promises related to security, development, and anti-corruption. He specifically stated, “Buhari did not develop Nigeria, Buhari did not provide security, Buhari did not fight corruption. Neither will Tinubu ever do this.” These comments reflect Baba-Ahmed’s deep concerns about the ability of the current administration to deliver on its promises, further reinforcing his conviction that Nigeria’s leadership needs a significant change in direction.
The LP vice-presidential candidate also expressed confidence that the APC would lose in 2027, predicting that Nigerians would eventually unite across various divides to reject what he characterized as bad leadership. He explained, “I see APC losing this election. I see Nigerians somehow uniting, listening to what someone like me is saying that if you cannot practice this, democracy is not for you, and then Nigerians will decide to come out and practice democracy for the first time, and then bad leadership will begin to have no hiding place in Nigeria.” Baba-Ahmed’s statement was not just an assessment of the current political situation but also a call for Nigerians to take an active role in ensuring that they are not governed by what he views as a corrupt and ineffective leadership.]