Former Labour Party (LP) vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has said only God can prevent President Bola Tinubu from securing victory in the 2027 presidential election.
Baba-Ahmed made the remark during an interview with Trust TV, where he assessed the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections and the chances of the leading presidential contenders.
Although he criticised some of Tinubu’s policies, the former LP chieftain acknowledged the President’s political experience and ability to build structures and establish alliances over an extended period.
According to Baba-Ahmed, Tinubu spent about 16 years building his political base and played a key role in forming an alliance with former President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the 2015 presidential election.
“Even though I don’t entirely agree with him, he did what others were not able to do. He organised for 16 years, not just plan,” Baba-Ahmed said.
“He organised for 16 years against all odds, he brought in Buhari from retirement. Buhari is from across the Niger. He stood for that.”
Baba-Ahmed described Tinubu’s emergence as President in 2023 as an exceptional political achievement, arguing that he succeeded in achieving what many others had struggled to accomplish.
He also compared Tinubu’s political strategy with that of African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Baba-Ahmed suggested that Atiku may have encountered opposition from those around him if he attempted to make similarly unconventional political moves.
The former LP chieftain further claimed that Tinubu currently wields significant influence over Nigeria’s political space and could make it difficult for opposition parties to unite ahead of the 2027 election.
“He (Tinubu) will not allow them (opposition) to come together. He probably actually chooses candidates in the opposition parties. He installs leadership in those political parties. He does what you and I cannot imagine,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed went further, stressing his view of Tinubu’s political influence ahead of the next presidential election.
“If Tinubu says something will happen, only God Almighty can stop it. If he says to be declared in 2027, only God Almighty can stop it.”
When asked whether his comments were intended as praise or criticism of Tinubu, Baba-Ahmed said people were free to interpret his assessment as they wished.
“It is anybody’s business to interpret it anyhow. I only state the facts. And the fact is Nigeria now belongs to Tinubu,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed served as the running mate to Peter Obi on the Labour Party ticket during the 2023 presidential election.
