Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate says Tinubu should leave office but questions the capacity of opposition candidates to transform Nigeria
Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has declared that none of the politicians currently challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can improve Nigeria, including his former running mate, Peter Obi.
Baba-Ahmed made the statement during an interview on the Mic On Podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye.
Speaking about the 2027 presidential contest, he said Tinubu should prepare to leave office but questioned the ability of those seeking to replace him to transform the country.
“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 asked whether his statement applied to all the opposition candidates, Baba-Ahmed confirmed that it did.
Asked specifically if Peter Obi was included, he replied, “Including Peter Obi, I’m sorry to say.”
Baba-Ahmed cited Obi’s previous involvement with the Peoples Democratic Party as part of his argument, while maintaining that Nigeria needs a fundamentally different political direction.
He also defended his own political history, stating that he had never belonged to a ruling party.
Baba-Ahmed and Obi contested the 2023 presidential election on the Labour Party platform, with Obi as the presidential candidate and Baba-Ahmed as his running mate.
His latest comments come amid heightened political realignments and growing activity ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
