The 2023 Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has expressed concerns about the opposition coalition’s prospects of unseating President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Speaking in an interview on Trust TV following the African Democratic Congress’s (ADC) adoption as the coalition’s platform, Baba-Ahmed highlighted challenges the coalition must address to improve its chances.

He noted that the coalition’s earlier success in defeating a sitting government—referring to the 2015 election—may ironically be a factor that could lead to failure this time around.

“The fact that a coalition succeeded in defeating a sitting government once might be the exact reason it could fail this time,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed pointed out that a prevailing narrative suggests that all opposition forces must unite solely to defeat Tinubu. He described this as an oversimplification and stressed that in the 2023 elections, the Labour Party managed to win significant support without forming a coalition.

“That idea that you must unite to defeat Tinubu isn’t factual. But don’t get me wrong—I support coming together… but the cause must Indeed be honourable. It must be in Nigeria’s interest,” he added.

He raised doubts about the cohesion and unity within the current coalition, noting reports of dissent and questions about the coalition’s legitimacy.

“There are dissenting voices within ADC, claiming this is a hostile takeover that lacked full stakeholder buy-in,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed also criticised what he sees as insufficient opposition to the Tinubu administration’s governance. He asked who among the coalition members is actively and strategically challenging the government, citing ongoing security crises such as the recent killings in Benue, Kebbi, and Plateau states.

Addressing Tinubu’s political strength, Baba-Ahmed warned against underestimating the president, whom he described as a highly influential figure with a long history of political strategy and appointments.

“People are underestimating Tinubu. Even Nigeria’s military rulers didn’t do what he’s doing… If you’re going to defeat a man this powerful, you’d better be ready,” he said.

He contrasted the current coalition’s lack of a unifying figure like former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, who commanded wide support and inspired other aspirants to step aside. Baba-Ahmed questioned whether any leader in the present coalition would willingly withdraw to back a rival. “Among them, who has ever stepped down and said, ‘I support the other person’?” he asked.

Recalling Tinubu’s political manoeuvrings, Baba-Ahmed detailed how Tinubu backed other prominent politicians over the years—including Atiku Abubakar in 2007, Ibrahim Babangida Ribadu in 2011, and Buhari in 2015—before securing the presidency himself in 2023. He suggested that defeating Tinubu would require similarly long-term strategic planning and unity, rather than a fragmented effort driven by individual ambitions.

Despite his criticisms, Baba-Ahmed expressed support for unity and coalition-building as principles.

“I believe in coalition. I believe in unity. And I support this coalition the same way, I still believe that Labour Party remains a good platform,” he said.

He concluded by emphasising the need for the coalition to overcome internal divisions and formulate a clear, collective plan to challenge the entrenched political influence of Tinubu. Without such measures, Baba-Ahmed warned, the coalition’s effort to unseat the current government may not succeed. (The Guardian)