The Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, has admitted that President Bola Tinubu could be difficult to dislodge in the 2027 presidential election, citing what he described as the growing weakness of opposition parties.
Baba-Ahmed made the assessment while reflecting on the political consequences of the 2023 election during an interview on The Mic-On Podcast anchored by Seun Okinbaloye. He argued that the political landscape had changed significantly since the last presidential contest, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerging, in his view, as the only major party still standing.
According to him, the resources and influence of the Nigerian state had been deployed in ways that weakened rival political parties over the past three years. “The only standing political party now is APC,” he said, adding that he was uncertain how Nigerians would respond to the situation at the 2027 polls.
His comments came alongside a fresh claim that the inauguration of President Tinubu in 2023 could have been stopped through what he described as a “clean”, legal and constitutional process. Baba-Ahmed said he had advocated a strategy based on the Constitution and the presidential election results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He specifically cited Section 134(2)(b) of the Constitution, arguing that the declared result did not meet the constitutional threshold for a valid presidential victory. He claimed that, had other political actors supported his proposal, then-Senate President Ahmad Lawan could have served temporarily as acting president while a fresh presidential election was conducted.
Baba-Ahmed further alleged that concerns over the election process had been raised by prominent individuals and groups before Tinubu’s declaration as president. He pointed to statements attributed to a former president and the Nigerian Peace Committee, while also questioning the timing of INEC’s declaration of the result in the early hours of the morning.
On the opposition’s chances in 2027, Baba-Ahmed said he had previously favoured the emergence of a single strong opposition platform rather than a broad coalition. He disclosed that he had attempted to persuade Peter Obi to pursue that route but claimed Obi chose instead to participate in the coalition movement.
Baba-Ahmed also explained that his decision to run with Obi in 2023 was influenced by his views on equity, regional representation and national inclusion after Buhari’s eight-year presidency. He said he believed Obi’s candidacy offered an opportunity to address those concerns and subsequently campaigned for the ticket across northern Nigeria.
