2027: Don’t include me among candidates who can’t fix Nigeria — Adebayo replies Baba-Ahmed
Social Democratic Party Candidate Responds to Criticism of Contenders for 2027 Presidency
By Bayo Wahab
Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo has refuted the assertion made by Datti Baba-Ahmed that none of the prominent candidates for the 2027 presidential election possess the ability to improve Nigeria.
During an interview on Arise TV’s News Night on Sunday, Adebayo suggested that Baba-Ahmed’s comments stemmed from his personal experiences with specific politicians and should not be generalized to include all candidates.
“Senator Datti is talking from experience, based on his intimate relationships with people he has interacted with, so I believe that should be limited to that context. He can’t be making statements about individuals like myself, with whom he has no direct dealings,” Adebayo stated.
Baba-Ahmed, who served as the running mate to Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election, expressed his views during a recent appearance on the Mic On Podcast, where he advised President Bola Tinubu to prepare for a transition of power, emphasizing that he does not believe any of the opposition candidates will be able to improve the country’s situation.
“I will simply advise Uncle Tinubu to please prepare to hand over and move away, but not to the people contesting against him,” Baba-Ahmed said. “None of them will improve Nigeria. All those people contesting against him have been affiliated at some point—including Peter Obi, who was once part of the PDP.”
In his response, Adebayo suggested that Baba-Ahmed’s familiarity with Obi may have shaped his unfavorable view of other presidential candidates. He pointed out that Baba-Ahmed’s previous affiliation with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may further inform his assessments of the political landscape.
“His past involvement with the PDP may explain his perceptions of the politicians he has encountered. However, I believe he cannot fairly include me in that assessment,” Adebayo remarked.
He further emphasized that any discussion of his candidacy should not be conflated with Baba-Ahmed’s experiences.
