The Presidency has responded to comments made by Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, running mate to Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election, over his recent remarks casting doubt on President Bola Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term in 2027.
Baba-Ahmed, who appeared on Arise Television’s political program, ‘Prime Time,’ on Friday, advised President Tinubu not to seek re-election if he is truly a smart politician.
The Labour Party chieftain who believes Tinubu’s time is up, adding that everything is there for the president and the ruling All Progressives Party to see that they would lose in 2027.
“I expect Tinubu to throw in the towel if he is that smart politician that he turns out to be,” Baba-Datti asserted.
He sarcastically described Tinubu as a super smart politician who started presenting presidential candidates in 2007, “culminating in his electoral heist in 2023.”
He said, “He skipped 2007 and jokingly made Atiku (presidential) candidate, made Ribadu and somebody 2011, made Buhari in 2015, Buhari won, and then skipped 2019 and they stole 2023. If he is that smart, everything is there for him that he’s going to lose 2027.”
According to Baba-Ahmed, two possible candidates can defeat Tinubu in 2027.
He claimed that Tinubu would not fulfill his campaign promises for Nigerians because “it has been proven that APC is a lie.”
“Buhari did not develop Nigeria, Buhari did not provide security, Buhari did not fight corruption. Neither will Tinubu ever do this,” he said.
The LP 2023 Vice Presidential candidate predicted that the APC would lose the 2027 election. He added that Nigerians will unite ahead of the election and come out to vote out bad leaders.
“I see APC losing this election. I see Nigerians somehow uniting, listening to what someone like me is saying that if you cannot practice this, democracy is not for you, and then Nigerians will decide to come out and practice democracy for the first time, and then bad leadership will begin to have no hiding place in Nigeria,” he predicted.
However, responding to Datti’s comment, the presidency says no political “conspiracies” can prevent the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.
In a post shared on Saturday via his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, described Baba-Ahmed’s arguments as “illogical,” dismissing his recent television interview as incoherent and lacking in substance.
“Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed’s ‘illogical logic’ was all over the place in his recent interview with a television channel. He peddled arguments that were flawed, devoid of reason and empty,” Dare said.
“He chose to base his political calculations on President Bola Tinubu not winning a second term given his antecedents and because Nigerians will decide at the polls, among other things. He conveniently avoided the substance of performance and capacity.
“Unfortunately, he chose to walk into a lane he was unfamiliar with and chose to confront a politician he is no match for.
“Politics is not for theorists or the faint-hearted nor the parochial. Politics is for those with a solid track record of performance, the courageous, far-sighted and gifted. Qualities he clearly lacks
.“Another thing Baba Ahmed lacks is the capacity for honesty because that is the only way to describe his claim that President
“Tinubu is not fulfilling his campaign promises. The positive impacts of the tough choices President Tinubu has made in the interest of the country are already being felt, and the economic indices are there to prove this.”
Dare said the International Monetary Fund recently applauded Tinubu for his economic reforms, noting that they have put the economy in a better position.
The presidential aide said Tinubu “will win comfortably in 2027 no matter the volume of armchair theories and political conspiracies”.
He said Tinubu’s performance “will clear the path” for his re-election.
“So, instead of running the circuit of television networks to peddle his poorly thought-out conjectures, Baba-Ahmed should seriously consider how to rehabilitate his failed political career, an intervention he urgently needs”.
Dare asked Baba-Ahmed to either keep quiet or leave politics for those “equipped” for the “complicated art”.
