Baba Ahmed Says ADC Must Field Fresh Face To Beat APC In 2027

Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed has expressed doubt over the chances of Atiku Abubakar defeating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election if fielded again.

He believes the African Democratic Congress (ADC) needs a more unpredictable candidate to have a real shot at unseating the ruling party.

Speaking in a recent interview with Trust TV, Baba-Ahmed, who was the Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 election, weighed in on reports that Atiku might be presented as the flagbearer of a new opposition coalition under the ADC. He argued that Atiku’s long history in presidential races has made his political strategy predictable and easy for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to counter.

He recalled that the APC had already defeated Atiku in two previous contests and said President Tinubu, having spent years preparing for power, is not a politician to be taken lightly. According to Baba-Ahmed, Tinubu’s political rise was the result of over a decade of calculated planning and coalition building — a level of patience and strategy he believes many in the opposition lack.

While not opposing Atiku’s ambition outright, Baba-Ahmed stressed that if the coalition truly wants to win in 2027, it needs a fresh, lesser-known candidate who would be harder for the ruling party to predict or discredit. He insisted that the ruling party’s machinery is already too familiar with Atiku’s political playbook, making him a vulnerable choice in another face-off.

He also pointed out the need for discipline and unity within the opposition ranks. According to him, many politicians within the coalition are also eyeing the presidency for themselves, which could weaken their ability to rally behind a single candidate with the level of coordination required to defeat Tinubu.

Baba-Ahmed’s comments come at a time when opposition leaders, including Atiku and Peter Obi, are in talks to form a united front ahead of the 2027 elections under the ADC platform. While the alliance signals a move toward a stronger opposition, internal debates over who should lead the charge may pose early challenges to the coalition’s effectiveness.

As preparations for 2027 gradually take shape, Baba-Ahmed’s remarks reflect growing tension within opposition circles about how best to confront a ruling party still benefiting from incumbency and a broad political network.