Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the former Labour Party (LP) Vice Presidential candidate, has made a bold claim that President Bola Tinubu will not seek re-election in 2027 if he is as astute a politician as he appears. Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time program on April 18, 2025, Baba-Ahmed argued that Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) face an inevitable defeat in the upcoming general elections, citing mounting public dissatisfaction and political missteps. His remarks have sparked discussions about Nigeria’s political future and Tinubu’s legacy as the 2027 elections loom.
Baba-Ahmed’s assertion hinges on his belief that Tinubu’s political era is waning. “Tinubu’s time is up,” he declared, suggesting that the president should “throw in the towel” if he recognizes the clear signs of an impending electoral loss. He pointed to what he described as Tinubu’s long history of influencing presidential candidacies, starting in 2007. According to Baba-Ahmed, Tinubu strategically supported candidates like Atiku Abubakar, Nuhu Ribadu, and Muhammadu Buhari in past elections, culminating in what he controversially termed an “electoral heist” in 2023. This narrative frames Tinubu as a political kingmaker whose strategies may no longer resonate with Nigeria’s evolving electorate.
The Labour Party stalwart’s confidence in an APC defeat stems from widespread economic and social challenges under Tinubu’s administration. Since taking office in 2023, Tinubu has faced criticism over rising living costs, unemployment, and controversial economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies. Baba-Ahmed echoed sentiments expressed in protests as early as February 2024, when he described the economic hardship as the “fastest election consequences” he had witnessed, signaling rapid public disillusionment. He predicted that Nigerians, frustrated by “bad leadership,” would unite to vote out the APC in 2027, potentially rallying behind opposition figures he described as Tinubu’s “nemesis,” though he refrained from naming them.
Baba-Ahmed’s remarks also reflect his broader critique of Nigeria’s democratic process. He has consistently challenged the legitimacy of the 2023 election, previously calling Tinubu’s swearing-in “unconstitutional” and urging his resignation. His appearance on Prime Time reiterated his stance that the Labour Party remains the only viable alternative to the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he dismissed as a “detachment” of the ruling party. This positioning underscores his call for Nigerians to defend their constitution and reclaim political power through democratic means.
As Nigeria approaches 2027, Baba-Ahmed’s provocative statements highlight the deepening political divide. While Tinubu’s supporters, like Senate President Godswill Akpabio, argue that the president inherited an economy “on life support” and is working to stabilize it, critics like Baba-Ahmed see a government out of touch with citizens’ struggles. Whether Tinubu will heed this advice and step aside remains uncertain, but Baba-Ahmed’s words have ignited a conversation about leadership, accountability, and the future of Nigerian democracy.
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