The former Labour Party vice presidential candidate further stated that he had cautioned the opposition coalition against “excessive excitement”
Baba-Ahmed: Atiku Would Have Been Nigeria’s President in 2027 If He Had Backed Obi in 2023
Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has said that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would have become Nigeria’s president in 2027 if he had supported Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking during an interview on Inside Sources on Channels Television, Baba-Ahmed argued that Atiku missed an opportunity to unite the opposition by allowing Obi to contest in 2023 while positioning himself for a future presidential bid.
According to him, if Atiku had adopted a strategy similar to that of President Bola Tinubu—who previously provided political platforms for other politicians before pursuing his own presidential ambition—he would have gained the support of both Obi and Labour Party members.
“If in the 2023 election he had called Peter Obi and me and said, ‘You are my juniors, I will support you now, and in 2027 you will support me,’ I would have agreed, and I would have advised Peter Obi to agree. Atiku would have been the president of Nigeria in 2027,” Baba-Ahmed stated.
He praised Tinubu’s patience in building political alliances over the years, noting that the president had supported several politicians, including Atiku in 2007 and the late former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, before eventually securing the presidency himself.
Baba-Ahmed said Tinubu’s long-term political calculations paid off, contrasting them with what he described as impatience among some members of the current opposition coalition.
He also mentioned former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi as one of the few opposition figures who appeared willing to patiently build toward a future political ambition.
The former lawmaker further warned opposition leaders against becoming overly optimistic about defeating Tinubu, insisting that the president understands the political landscape and would likely counter any strategy developed by the coalition.
“They didn’t have a Buhari in this coalition,” Baba-Ahmed said. “I told them that if you do not have a strong and credible outlier, it will be difficult for people to rally around a candidate. They did not listen and instead took offence.”
His comments come amid ongoing discussions about opposition unity and preparations for the 2027 general election, as political parties continue to assess their strategies for challenging the ruling administration.
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