Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party's vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has declared that none of the prominent figures challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election has what it takes to fix Nigeria. Speaking on the MicOn Podcast on Saturday, September 5, 2026, Baba-Ahmed did not spare his former ally, Peter Obi, from criticism, arguing that all leading contenders, including Obi, have at some point been part of the political arrangements he holds responsible for Nigeria's current difficulties.
Baba-Ahmed's Blunt Advice to Tinubu and His Rivals
According to Vanguard, Baba-Ahmed offered a blunt assessment of the crowded field of presidential hopefuls shaping up ahead of the next election cycle. He said, "I will simply advise Uncle (Tinubu) to please prepare to hand over and move away, but not to the people contesting against him. 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 positioned himself as a distinctly different kind of politician, claiming he is the only serious contender who has never held membership of a ruling party. "Tell me one politician who has never been in a ruling party. I'm the one. Have I ever been in a ruling party?" he said, as reported by The Punch.
Baba-Ahmed's Political Record and CPC Resignation
Baba-Ahmed explained that he was once a member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) but resigned before it merged with other parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC). "When I was in CPC, it was a little opposition party. I never had an APC membership card," he said, underscoring his claim of never belonging to a ruling party.
He also questioned the consistency of Atiku Abubakar's attacks on President Tinubu regarding the controversy surrounding Tinubu's records in the United States. Baba-Ahmed suggested that the former vice-president had not always pursued the matter with equal vigour, turning his fire on Tinubu's record in office by accusing the president of systematically undermining political institutions. "All he did in three years was to destroy political parties," Baba-Ahmed said.
Impact on the 2027 Presidential Race
While acknowledging that Tinubu had been given a chance to govern, Baba-Ahmed said the president should not seek to extend his time in power beyond a second term. The 2027 presidential election is shaping up to be one of Nigeria's most competitive in recent memory, with several political figures and parties already jostling for position.
In related developments, Legit.ng reported that Peter Obi made a major declaration during a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, ahead of the 2027 election. Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate, referenced the IReV failures that sparked controversy after the 2023 general election and vowed to ensure that such issues do not recur under his watch, declaring he is ready to die for the country's democracy. Rabiu Kwankwaso, the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, also addressed supporters, warning Nigerians not to repeat past electoral mistakes.
