Peter Obi, Others Challenging Tinubu Cannot Transform Nigeria — Datti Baba-Ahmed

Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the 2023 Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, has said that none of the politicians positioning themselves to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election can bring the kind of transformation Nigeria needs, including his former running mate, Peter Obi.

Baba-Ahmed made the statement during an appearance on the Mic On Podcast, where he discussed the evolving political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election, his political relationship with Obi and the prospects of the opposition challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking about the expected presidential contest, Baba-Ahmed said Tinubu should prepare to leave office but argued that Nigerians should not expect a major improvement from those currently seeking to replace him.

“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,” he said.

When he was asked whether his assessment applied to all the major opposition figures, Baba-Ahmed maintained that position.

“None of that part. Tinubu should leave the stage. All those people contesting against him, too — they were all in bed together at some point or another,” he said.

The host subsequently asked him directly whether Peter Obi was also included among those he believed could not improve the country.

Baba-Ahmed responded: “Including Peter Obi, I’m sorry to say.”

The statement is significant because Baba-Ahmed and Obi were political allies during the 2023 presidential election, when they jointly contested the election on the Labour Party platform.

Obi emerged as the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, while Baba-Ahmed served as his running mate. Their campaign was built largely around promises of political change, institutional reform and improved governance.

However, their political paths have since diverged as preparations for the 2027 election intensify.

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Baba-Ahmed is now a member of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), while Obi has pursued a different opposition platform. The development has effectively ended speculation that Baba-Ahmed would automatically follow Obi into whichever political arrangement he chose for 2027.

Baba-Ahmed had earlier explained that his decision to become Obi’s running mate in 2023 was driven largely by what he described as sympathy for the former Anambra State governor and concern about the political circumstances surrounding Obi at the time.

In an earlier interview with Symfoni, Baba-Ahmed said Obi had approached three prominent politicians in 2022 in an attempt to build a political alliance, but they allegedly declined to work with him.

According to Baba-Ahmed, their refusal disappointed him because he believed Obi’s political project represented an opportunity for Nigeria to pursue a different direction.

“People don’t understand between me and Peter Obi, I have a great deal of sympathy for him. And this sympathy was at the core of our relationship,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed said he would have preferred for one of the politicians approached by Obi to join him but eventually decided to volunteer himself for the project.

“When he approached three major politicians in 2022 they avoided him. I would have been glad if in 2022 one of them went with Peter Obi. They all avoided him. I felt bad for him and for Nigeria as a nation,” he said.

He said he understood that the politicians had their reasons for declining to work with Obi but chose not to disclose their identities or the circumstances surrounding their decisions.

Despite their close political partnership during the 2023 election, Baba-Ahmed has repeatedly rejected the suggestion that his political future is tied to Obi.

He particularly dismissed speculation that he would follow Obi into a new political party or coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“They thought I would follow Peter Obi to ADC, but I had given enough sympathy then,” Baba-Ahmed said.

“Obi does not own me. I own my independence.”

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Baba-Ahmed has also claimed that he warned Obi against some of the political decisions he later made while preparing for the 2027 election.

According to him, he met Obi in January 2024 at the John Wilson Hotel and advised him to engage influential politicians across different regions, including former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai.

Baba-Ahmed argued that any serious opposition strategy for 2027 would require broader political engagement and stronger grassroots structures rather than relying solely on the popularity of individual candidates.

“At that time, I told him there are key figures like Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Nasir El-Rufai. I suggested he should engage them,” he said.

He also criticised politicians who wait until an election year before attempting to build alliances, insisting that political movements require years of planning and organisation.

“If in 2024 you cannot plan for 2027, then I cannot continue to be with you,” Baba-Ahmed said.

His comments came amid increasing efforts by opposition politicians to build a coalition capable of challenging the APC and President Tinubu in 2027.

Baba-Ahmed has also questioned the ability of some proposed opposition combinations to secure sufficient support across Nigeria’s regions.

In an earlier discussion on the political outlook, he expressed doubts about whether northern voters would automatically support an opposition ticket involving Obi and Kwankwaso, citing the importance of regional influence, political structures, grassroots mobilisation and individual political networks.

“It is very unlikely that the North will rally around OK. That is my personal opinion,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed argued that political influence at the grassroots level would remain a major factor in the 2027 contest, particularly in northern Nigeria.

He cited Kwankwaso’s political influence in Kano as an example of the kind of structure that could significantly affect an opposition coalition’s electoral prospects.

“The local government is almost his state; the state is almost his region,” Baba-Ahmed said while discussing Kwankwaso’s political strength.

He also questioned how presidential tickets could reconcile calls for generational change with the age, political experience and backgrounds of the individuals being considered for top positions.

“You are looking for new blood, a new generation, yet you may have a vice-presidential figure who is older in age, education, political profile, and experience,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed’s latest criticism of Obi comes at a time when the 2027 political realignment is becoming increasingly intense, with opposition figures seeking alliances that could challenge the APC’s control of the presidency.

While Obi remains one of the most prominent opposition politicians from the 2023 election, Baba-Ahmed’s comments suggest that their once-close political relationship has evolved considerably.

The former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate has also criticised aspects of Nigeria’s economic management under successive administrations.

Speaking about the fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms under Tinubu, Baba-Ahmed argued that economic policies would struggle to achieve sustainable results if corruption remained entrenched within government.

“Whatever policy, however beautiful it is you bring, that is laced with corruption, it will never work,” he said.

He was also sharply critical of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, which he described as one of the most corrupt administrations in the country’s history.

Baba-Ahmed linked what he regarded as failures in governance to corruption and questioned whether major policy reforms could succeed without stronger institutions and accountability.

His comments have added another layer to the political debate ahead of 2027, particularly because of his previous role alongside Obi and his subsequent decision to pursue an independent political path.

The 2027 presidential election is expected to be heavily contested, with the APC seeking to retain power and opposition politicians attempting to consolidate their various political structures into a formidable alternative.

For Baba-Ahmed, however, the central issue goes beyond defeating Tinubu at the polls.

His latest position is that changing the occupant of the presidency alone will not necessarily change Nigeria, a view he says applies equally to Obi and other politicians seeking to replace the incumbent.

The comments are likely to attract further reactions from supporters of Obi and other opposition figures as political parties and their candidates continue preparations for the 2027 general election.

Peter Obi, Others Challenging Tinubu Cannot Transform Nigeria — Datti Baba-Ahmed

Kano Political Earthquake: Kwankwaso Loyalists Dump NDC, Defect to APC in Major 2027 Blow

A massive wave of defections has struck the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State, as a serving senator, a former governor, and several key loyalists of vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso abandoned the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a dramatic political realignment.

The mass defection, unveiled on Saturday at the formal inauguration of the Tinubu Support Groups (TSG) 2.0 State Chapters at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, completely recalibrates the balance of power in Nigeria’s largest voting corridor ahead of the high-stakes 2027 general elections. The event attracted a mammoth crowd, with supporters reportedly climbing trees and rooftops around the stadium and nearby Kwari textile market to catch a glimpse of the proceedings. Reports indicate that Senator Hanga joined the APC alongside approximately 136,000 supporters. The stadium was reportedly filled to capacity several hours before the commencement of the ceremony, with supporters arriving as early as 6 a.m. The massive turnout disrupted commercial activities around the stadium and parts of the Kanti Kwari textile market, with some traders reportedly shutting their shops amid concerns over the unusually large gathering. Traffic was also heavily affected as jubilant supporters marched in groups and converged on the venue ahead of the event.

Among the prominent defectors were Senator Rufai Sani-Hanga, representing Kano Central and the only opposition lawmaker from the state in the Senate; former governor Kabiru Ibrahim-Gaya, who also previously served as chairman of a faction of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP); and Senator Mas’ud El-Jibrin Doguwa. Others included Ali Datti-Yako, former NDC deputy chairman; former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly Isyaku Ali-Danja; Senator Baraka Sani; former Ungogo Local Government Council chairman Badaru Umar; Senator Abdulmajid Dauda-Dandawaki; and Yusuf Danbatta, a former PDP deputy governorship candidate. Two former NNPP state chairmen, Mas’ud Eljibrin-Doguwa and Abdullahi Zubairu-Abiya, were also among the defectors.

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The defectors were formally ushered into the ruling platform by an impressive array of APC leadership, including APC National Chairman Prof. Nantawe Yilwatda, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf, immediate-past APC national chairman Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibril. Their presence at the ceremony signalled the strategic importance of these defections to the party’s 2027 ambitions. At the event, the party unveiled the Tinubu Support Group, the campaign structure for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election. Governor Kabir-Yusuf described the political realignment as a monumental consolidation for the APC in Kano, stating that the decision of Sani-Hanga and his formidable political network mirrored deepening public confidence in the administration’s governance agenda. He assured the senator and other defectors that APC would remain a broad platform where all members would have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state and Nigeria at large.

Speaking on behalf of the defecting bloc, Senator Sani-Hanga expressed their commitment to APC and pledged to work with the governor and other party leaders toward achieving victory in the 2027 general elections. They declared their irreversible loyalty to the party hierarchy and announced they had collapsed their grassroots structures to partner with the governor and national leadership to guarantee a landslide victory across all ballots in 2027.

In his remarks, former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Umar-Ganduje described the mammoth crowd that greeted the defections as proof that Kano State is for the APC. “We are not surprised because Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a progressive leader who has the foresight to look into the future for the sustainable development of our country,” he said. He said the APC’s renewed hope agenda was designed to guide the country’s developmental aspirations, with economic reforms among its key pillars. He noted that the reforms had increased government revenue, enabling all tiers of government to execute various projects. He urged Nigerians to continue to support the policies and programmes of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

This mass defection follows a pattern of high-profile departures from the Kwankwaso camp. Kabiru Adamu Kofar Ruwa, a founding member of Kwankwasiyya and close associate of Kwankwaso for nearly 29 years, recently left the movement and joined the APC. In a candid interview, he cited “injustice” as the primary reason for the mass exit: “The movement started with truth and trust. That was the foundation. But later, the leader of the journey, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, deviated completely from the path. Injustice crept in, and that destroyed the entire structure.” He declared that Kwankwasiyya has lost its way, predicting that the movement would come third at best in future elections. An APC chieftain, Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, declared that with the anticipated return of Senators Hanga and Gaya to the APC, the Kwankwasiyya Movement no longer has the political strength to determine the outcome of the 2027 general election in Kano State. He noted that Kano Central alone commands more than one-third of the total votes in Kano State, and with Senator Hanga joining the APC, victory for the ruling party in the zone is already assured.

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The political landscape in Kano has been in flux since Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf defected from the NNPP to the APC earlier in the year. His decision, alongside 22 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives, and 44 local government chairmen, effectively dismantled the Kwankwasiyya political structure that had brought him to power. Kwankwaso had earlier expressed deep sadness over the governor’s decision, describing it as painful and disappointing.

Despite the defections, Kwankwaso has maintained that the APC’s control does not guarantee President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2027 election. He had previously, in a video address, endorsed the defection of some of his loyalists to the APC, saying the decision was informed by the experiences of his supporters who had been under huge pressure and tension since the defection saga erupted. He claimed that many local government chairmen and councillors had been placed under intense pressure to defect, with some suffering sleeplessness and even being hospitalised due to the trauma. “We agreed that all chairmen, councillors, supervisory councillors and anyone asked to sign the document should go ahead and sign. We have no problem with that. 2027 is not yet here,” he said. The NDC has also dismissed claims that Kwankwaso threatened to leave the party over disputes surrounding candidate selections in Kano State. The controversy followed the party’s decision to review and replace several candidates earlier submitted by the Kwankwasiyya faction in Kano State, which the party insists was taken in line with internal agreements.

Kano State has become the epicentre of a fierce political battle ahead of 2027, as Kwankwaso and his estranged political godson, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, battle for supremacy. The defection of Kwankwaso’s key allies to the APC represents a significant shift in the state’s political dynamics. With Hanga’s defection, the opposition in Kano is left without representation in the Senate, as Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Senator Kawu Sumaila are already in the APC. While defections have largely been one-sided, there have been reports of some APC members defecting to the NDC in recent weeks, indicating a fluid political landscape where loyalties are shifting as the 2027 elections approach. As the political battle lines harden, the battle for Kano—Nigeria’s most populous state and a key electoral prize—is set to intensify, with both camps mobilizing supporters and consolidating alliances. The mass defection is expected to strengthen the ruling party’s political structure in the state as it intensifies preparations for the presidential, governorship and National Assembly elections.

Kano Political Earthquake: Kwankwaso Loyalists Dump NDC, Defect to APC in Major 2027 Blow

Heavy Security in Rivers as Wike, Amaechi Hold Rival Events Amid Political Tension

Heavy security operatives took over Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State yesterday as political rivals Nyesom Wike and Rotimi Amaechi held simultaneous events, raising fears of a violent confrontation between their supporters.

A large contingent of armed policemen and other security agents were deployed to prevent any breakdown of law and order. Amaechi, the vice presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was in town for the burial of his mother, Dame Ezinne Mary Orduah Amaechi. Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), attended a grand reception organised by his political group, the Rainbow Coalition.

The funeral service at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Ubima, drew a large crowd of sympathizers from within and outside the state. Among the dignitaries were former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, ADC National Chairman Chief David Mark, and former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami (SAN). In a remarkable display of cross-party solidarity, opposition figures including Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso also attended the funeral.

An equally large crowd thronged the Rainbow Coalition reception venue. Tension had mounted across the state over the possibility of a breakdown of law and order during the two events, prompting the security deployment. The ADC had earlier raised an alarm that Wike planned to disrupt access to Ubima by holding his reception in Omagwa on the same day, alleging he had conspired with the Ikwerre LGA Chairman to create a situation that could restrict movement along the road leading to Ubima. Despite the tension, no ugly development was reported during the events.

In his sermon during the funeral service, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Port Harcourt, Patrick Eluke, implored political office holders to use such opportunities to make peace with all men and protect the most vulnerable members of society. Eluke reminded the congregation that “election is an opportunity for the people to choose who they want to lead them,” adding that “Nigeria needs peace and we need leaders who can disagree but arrive at a point that will be beneficial to all.”

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Speaking at the Rainbow Coalition reception, Wike fired a fresh broadside at Amaechi, accusing him of working against the interest of Rivers State and the South-South geopolitical zone. The FCT Minister cited Amaechi’s role in the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 election and what he termed the marginalization of Rivers State in project allocation during Amaechi’s tenure as Transportation Minister.

Wike quoted Amaechi’s 2014 definition of brotherhood, saying: “Amaechi defined a brother as one who identifies with us in terms of problems. He said brotherhood is not blood relation. So, we are going to copy that definition for the 2027 presidential election.” He asked: “Amaechi said Jonathan never cared for us and that Buhari was our brother because he would identify with us. If that’s the case, he now wants to run for Vice President. We want to ask: what happened all that time you were the Minister of Transport? Did he relate with us? Did he think about our problem? Did he bring anything here?”

The minister also revisited the Vice-Chancellor appointment process at the University of Port Harcourt, citing the case of Prof. Okechukwu Onuchukwu, noting that Amaechi disappointed Rivers people by failing to rally behind an eminent scholar from the local government area.

Wike hailed President Bola Tinubu for federal appointments and interventions in Rivers State, declaring: “Now Tinubu came and gave us the Vice-Chancellor of UNIPORT. This means that Tinubu is our brother. Tinubu came and gave us the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Environment in Ogoni. This means Tinubu is our brother.” He told the crowd: “We have adopted him as our brother because he related with us and because he identified with our problems. And that is why we are saying Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we will vote for you come 2027.”

Addressing governors who claimed the Rainbow Coalition would reduce President Tinubu’s votes in 2027, Wike insisted the coalition would actually increase his electoral support. “People who don’t have capacity, what are you doing there? If you have capacity and you are talking like that, we have the capacity; it will not reduce any votes; votes will increase,” he said. Wike noted that Tinubu got less than 5% in some of the complaining governors’ states in 2023.

Wike also predicted that Amaechi would be forced to urge his supporters to boycott the 2027 election before noon on election day, saying: “No more battalions of soldiers and police. It is now we the battalion of people that will come out.” He cast doubt on Amaechi’s ability to secure votes even in his home base, saying: “If he wins his village, Ubima, then he has won the election. That’s if he will win his own polling unit.”

In his welcome address, Ikwerre Local Government Chairman Charles Nwobodo declared that the area was “locked down” for President Tinubu, Wike, and the APC governorship candidate O.K. Chinda ahead of the 2027 general election. He vowed that Ikwerre would deliver “100 per cent” support for Tinubu’s second-term bid.

The ADC has previously responded to Wike’s attacks on Amaechi, describing them as a sign of fear of growing opposition. The party’s Rivers State Chairman, Dr. Chukwudi Dimkpa, said Wike’s attempt to rewrite political history will not erase the fact that Amaechi remains one of the most consequential political leaders to emerge from the state. The ADC argued that Wike’s outbursts reveal anxiety rather than confidence, and that every election is unique.

Heavy Security in Rivers as Wike, Amaechi Hold Rival Events Amid Political Tension