Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to President Bola Tinubu in the Office of Vice President Kashim Shettima, advised Tinubu against seeking re-election in 2027, urging him to support a younger, more energetic presidential candidate, as stated in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, reported by Daily Post Nigeria, TheCable, and Tribune Online. Baba-Ahmed, who resigned in April 2025 after 17 months, emphasized that Tinubu should focus his remaining two years on addressing Nigeria’s economic, security, and governance challenges while mentoring a successor committed to the nation‘s future. He said, “If I had met with President Tinubu, I would have told him not to run in 2027 and to back a younger candidate… There are better things he could do than being the president,” per Daily Post Nigeria.web:0
In an open letter dated April 23, 2025, Baba-Ahmed had previously urged Tinubu to “step aside—not for your opponents, but for a new generation of Nigerians who can carry the nation forward with fresh energy and ideas,” arguing that a voluntary exit would cement a dignified legacy, per Daily Trust and TheCable.web:1,2 He criticized Tinubu’s leadership as “disconnected and exclusive,” citing a “closed-door style,” perceived ethnic bias in appointments, and frequent absences abroad, which have fostered an image of an “isolated leader,” per TheCable.web:2 Baba-Ahmed also described the Renewed Hope Agenda as “a set of campaign promises, not a coherent governance plan,” and claimed over half of Tinubu’s cabinet is unfit for managing critical issues like security and public trust, per Leadership.web:8
Baba-Ahmed warned that prioritizing 2027 electoral ambitions over governance could undermine Tinubu’s legacy, stating, “If you win again without reforming your style and strategy, you may spend four more years preserving failure. If you lose, your legacy could be wiped out in an instant,” per Daily Trust.web:1 He highlighted regional discontent, noting, “The North is drifting from your leadership under the weight of economic hardship, insecurity, and alienation,” with similar disengagement in the South-East, South-South, and even Tinubu’s South-West base, per Neusroom.web:4 On April 20, 2025, he declared the North’s pivotal role in 2027, asserting, “No candidate can win the presidency without the support of the North,” and warned against electoral rigging, per Punch Newspapers.web:22
X posts reflected varied sentiments. @yabaleftonline and @Imranmuhdz on May 1, 2025, amplified Baba-Ahmed’s call for a younger candidate, while @Nigerian on April 28-29, 2025, cited him warning that Nigeria “will perish” if Tinubu rigs the 2027 election, per *post:5,2,6,7⁊. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga dismissed the critique, attributing it to Baba-Ahmed’s recent resignation, while APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru defended Tinubu’s achievements, including NELFUND and infrastructure projects, per Leadership.web:8 Despite Nigeria’s 34.8% inflation and insecurity challenges, Baba-Ahmed’s push for generational change aligns with his Northern Elders Forum advocacy, though some, like @PO_GrassRootM, suggest Tinubu’s re-election is unlikely.
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