Why Atiku Should Not Participate In 2027 Presidential Race – Baba-Ahmed
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who recently resigned as Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters to the President in the office of the Vice President, has advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to as a matter of national interest, drop his long-held presidential ambition.
Baba-Ahmed, who gave the advice when he featured on a Channels Television programme on Thursday, May 1, 2025, said that Atiku should instead focus on supporting the development of a new generation of leaders and transition to an elder statesman role having contested for the presidency six times.
He said that Nigeria is hungry for leadership with vision and empathy, adding that his advice is in line with the same advice he gave to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his open letter of April 23, in which he appealed to the him to forego a second term in 2027, owing to the nation’s political and economic challenges.
Baba-Ahmed, who was spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), said that there was the need for a collective advocacy for a transition to “a new generation of Nigerians”.
He further said; “He has done his bit. He has been persistent, but now, he should play a fatherly role—help identify and support younger leaders”.
Baba-Ahmed also said that he believes that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could still present a strong challenge in the 2027 presidential election if they nominate a younger, and visionary candidate.
In his words; “If they present someone younger, with fewer skeletons, better health and fresh ideas, they could wipe the floor with the APC. This country is hungry for leadership with vision and empathy.
“The regional origins should no longer be the primary factor in political considerations. It doesn’t matter where the person comes from. At this point, anyone still talking about North or South is missing the point. We need competence and vision,” he insisted.
