In a significant political intervention, a former close associate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has publicly called for the President to step aside at the end of his current term and not seek re-election in 2027.
Baba-Ahmed's Candid Assessment on National Television
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who once served as a political adviser to President Tinubu, made his startling remarks during an appearance on Channels Television's Sunday Politics programme. He expressed a clear preference that the President should not contest the next general election.
The core of Baba-Ahmed's argument hinges on a perceived lack of energy and strategic direction from the administration. He stated that President Tinubu has not governed with the drive, urgency, and brilliant strategic thinking he was famously known for during his political career. According to the former adviser, this has negatively impacted the government's ability to tackle Nigeria's mounting socio-economic challenges.
"Emilokan" Achieved, Time for a New Chapter
Baba-Ahmed reminded the public that Tinubu's long-stated ambition was to become Nigeria's President, encapsulated in his "Emilokan" (It's my turn) campaign mantra. With that ambition now fulfilled, the former adviser believes it is time for a new chapter.
"I'm sorry, but I have to say this again. When I left his administration, one of the things I told many people was, 'I wish President Tinubu would not run again in 2027,'" Baba-Ahmed revealed during the interview. He elaborated, "He said his ambition was to be president, and he has now achieved that... But I don't think he has run the country well. The Tinubu we used to know... hasn't shown that same hunger to fix things."
A Call for a Younger, Healthier Successor
Looking ahead, Dr. Baba-Ahmed proposed a specific path forward for the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He advised that it would be in the nation's best interest for Tinubu to identify, mentor, and throw his weight behind a younger and more dynamic successor from within the party's ranks.
"He should find someone within his party, a younger person, a healthier person, a more focused person, and make him his candidate," Baba-Ahmed stated emphatically. This call for generational transition underscores a growing conversation about leadership vitality in Nigerian politics.
APC's Stance Contrasts with Baba-Ahmed's View
This advice stands in stark contrast to the official position of the APC. Although President Tinubu has not formally declared his intention to run for a second term, the party machinery has already begun mobilizing support for his candidacy.
On May 22, 2025, at a national summit held at the Presidential Villa, the Progressive Governors' Forum passed a vote of confidence in the President and declared support for his re-election. The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, announced that the governors were satisfied with the midterm performance of the administration's Renewed Hope Agenda. He committed them to delivering electoral victory for Tinubu in their respective states in 2027.
This endorsement has been echoed in various zones of the country. For instance, stakeholders of the APC in Kano State have endorsed President Tinubu as the party's sole candidate for 2027 following meetings hosted by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Similarly, the South-South zone of the APC adopted Tinubu as their sole candidate during a zonal stakeholders' meeting held in Edo State.
The public divergence of views from a former insider like Baba-Ahmed highlights the undercurrents and debates within the political landscape as the nation gradually looks toward the 2027 elections. It sets the stage for a crucial discussion about performance, legacy, and succession within Nigeria's leading political party.
