Former Labour Party vice-presid ential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has said none of the major contenders expected to participate in the 2027 presidential election has what it takes to significantly improve Nigeria.
Baba-Ahmed, who was the running mate to Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election, made the remarks during an appearance on the MicOn Podcast on Saturday.
He said President Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar had all, at different times, been associated with political parties and administrations that contributed to the challenges currently confronting the country.
According to him, while Tinubu should prepare to leave office at the end of his tenure, Nigerians should not expect any of the major politicians currently positioning themselves for the 2027 election to fundamentally transform the country.
“I will simply advise uncle (Tinubu) to please prepare to hand over and move away, but not to the people contesting against him,” Baba-Ahmed said.
“Because none of them will improve Nigeria. All those people contesting against him too were all in bed together at some point or another — including Peter Obi. At some point, he was in PDP.”
The former lawmaker said his political advocacy remained focused on what he described as a “new Nigeria”, insisting that he was the only politician among the leading contenders who had never belonged to a ruling political party.
Baba-Ahmed explained that although he was once a member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), he left the party before its merger with other parties that eventually produced the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He maintained that he never became an APC member.
The former LP vice-presidential candidate also questioned former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar's criticism of President Tinubu over controversies surrounding the president's records in the United States.
Baba-Ahmed argued that Atiku had not always raised the issue with the same intensity.
He also said Tinubu, having been given the opportunity to govern the country, should not seek to remain in office beyond a second term.
Baba-Ahmed further accused the president of weakening opposition political parties since assuming office, alleging that “all he did in three years was to destroy political parties.”
The comments come as political parties and prominent politicians intensify preparations ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with Tinubu seeking re-election and Obi and Atiku among the figures positioning themselves for the contest.
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