Former spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum and ex-political adviser to the President, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to abandon any ambition of contesting the 2027 presidential election, calling instead for a generational shift in political leadership.
In an interview with Channels Television, Baba-Ahmed emphasized the need for Nigeria’s older political figures to relinquish the stage and support younger, more vibrant leaders. He specifically pointed to Atiku’s repeated bids for the presidency, having run six times as a reason for him to adopt a fatherly role now.
“He’s done his bit. He’s been persistent. But now, he should play a fatherly role—help identify and support younger leaders,”; Baba-Ahmed said.
According to him, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would stand a better chance in the 2027 polls if it fields a younger candidate. He argued that Nigeria requires leadership defined by empathy, energy, and fresh ideas, not one rooted in prolonged political careers and baggage.
Baba-Ahmed, who recently stepped down from his position as Political Adviser in the Office of the Vice President, warned against basing political choices on regional sentiment. He stressed that national leadership should be anchored on competence, integrity, and vision.
Commenting on 2023 presidential contenders, including Labour Party’s Peter Obi and Atiku, Baba-Ahmed questioned whether either would have performed better than incumbent President Bola Tinubu. He insisted that the nation’s path to progress lies not in recycling familiar faces, but in embracing generational change.
“All these people—the best service they can render to this country is to retire themselves,”; he said, adding that if they fail to do so voluntarily, voters must be ready to vote them out.
Baba-Ahmed also criticized the PDP for what he described as encouraging false hope among veteran politicians like Atiku. He warned that such ambitions detract from the urgent task of fixing governance and finding competent successors.
Atiku, who was the PDP flag bearer in both 2019 and 2023, has not ruled out another run in 2027. But Baba-Ahmed urged elder statesmen like him to embrace the role of kingmakers rather than continuing to seek the presidency themselves.
