Datti Baba Ahmed Says ADC Lacks Leaders of Tinubu’s Calibre Ahead of 2027 Elections
Former Labour Party (LP) vice-presidential candidate, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has asserted that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) does not possess politicians with the same strategic depth and political strength as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, a gap he says could weaken the party’s 2027 electoral prospects.
Speaking during a television interview on Friday, Baba-Ahmed described Tinubu as a “resourceful, focused and determined master politician,” and argued that the ADC currently lacks a comparable figure capable of uniting support and driving a successful national campaign.
Baba-Ahmed also took aim at the composition of the ADC, claiming that many of its prominent members are former architects of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who defected after failing to secure positions within the ruling party. He warned that without strong, credible leadership, the ADC risks fragmentation if internal primaries do not satisfy the ambitions of key figures.
The former vice-presidential candidate noted that the political conditions which enabled the APC to win in 2015, a time of intense public desire for change, no longer exist, and that simply re-branding familiar political actors under a new coalition is unlikely to excite voters.
Baba-Ahmed’s remarks come amid shifting alliances in Nigeria’s opposition landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections. His former running mate, Peter Obi, recently aligned with the ADC coalition, though Baba-Ahmed insisted that Obi’s move did not amount to a formal defection from the Labour Party.
He also clarified that he has not formally declared a bid for the presidency in 2027, saying reports suggesting otherwise were misinterpretations of his comments and that formal declarations will follow party and electoral commission timetables.
Political commentators have reacted to Baba Ahmed’s statements with mixed views. Some, like publisher Dele Momodu, criticised his tone toward the ADC as overly emotional, likening it to the reaction of a “jilted lover,” while emphasising that political discourse should remain constructive.
As Nigeria’s parties and coalitions continue to jockey for advantage ahead of the 2027 polls, discussions around leadership strength, party cohesion, and strategy remain central to debates on the country’s political future.