Atiku would’ve won 2027 presidency if he backed Obi in 2023 — Datti Baba-Ahmed
Baba-Ahmed Claims Atiku Missed Opportunity to Secure 2027 Presidency
Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed stated that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar could have positioned himself to win the 2027 presidential election if he had supported Peter Obi’s candidacy in 2023.
In a recent appearance on Inside Sources on Channels Television, Baba-Ahmed argued that Atiku failed to seize an opportunity to cultivate political goodwill by backing younger candidates, suggesting that a strategy similar to that of President Bola Tinubu could have benefited him.
“If in the 2023 elections, he had surprised everyone by supporting Peter Obi and me, saying, ‘I’ll support you guys. No 2027 for you,’ Wallahi, I would have agreed, and I would have advised Obi to do the same. Atiku would have been the 2027 president of Nigeria if that had occurred,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He reflected on the tendency of some politicians to become overly focused on presidential ambitions, stating, “Once they enter that trance, they tend to see themselves as President.”
Baba-Ahmed highlighted Tinubu’s political trajectory as an example of the value of patience and strategic alliance-building. He noted that Tinubu, at various points, facilitated political platforms for other aspirants while awaiting his chance for the presidency.
“When in 2007, he provided support to Atiku, we understood his long-term strategy,” he said, emphasizing that Tinubu’s backing of other political figures ultimately bolstered his own presidential aspirations.
Baba-Ahmed credited Tinubu’s patience for his success in 2023, a quality he believes is often absent among current political aspirants.
“Those in this coalition group, with the exception of Amaechi, lack that patience. Amaechi seems to have been biding his time,” he remarked.
Additionally, Baba-Ahmed criticized the leaders of the opposition coalition, cautioning them against overconfidence ahead of the 2027 elections. He noted that the coalition lacks a strong unifying figure, saying, “They didn’t have a Buhari. I warned them that without a decent outlier, it would be difficult for people to rally around him. Did they listen? They took offense.”
He further cautioned that President Tinubu’s political experience and understanding of power dynamics could pose significant challenges for the opposition as they prepare for the next general election.
