Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has declared that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may have jeopardized his chances of becoming Nigeria’s president in 2027 by refusing to support Peter Obi’s presidential bid in the 2023 general election.
Baba-Ahmed argued that Atiku would have been in a stronger position to secure broad opposition support for a future presidential contest had he sacrificed his own ambition in 2023 and backed the Labour Party ticket.
Speaking during an interview on a political affairs programme on television, the LP chieftain stressed that the 2023 move would have mirrored the long-term political strategy often associated with President Bola Tinubu, whom he described as a patient political tactician willing to delay personal ambitions for future gains.
“If in the 2023 elections he had called Peter Obi and me and said, ‘You are my juniors, I will support you. No 2027 for you,’ I would have agreed, and I would have persuaded Peter Obi to agree. Atiku would have been the president in 2027 if that had happened,” Baba-Ahmed said.
The former lawmaker maintained that many Nigerian politicians become consumed by presidential ambitions, making it difficult for them to make strategic sacrifices that could strengthen their future prospects.
Drawing comparisons with President Tinubu’s political journey, Baba-Ahmed noted that the former Lagos State governor demonstrated uncommon patience by supporting other presidential candidates before eventually securing the nation’s highest office.
He cited instances where Tinubu allegedly provided political platforms for prominent northern politicians, including Atiku in 2007 and the late former President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the 2015 election, describing such moves as part of a carefully calculated long-term strategy.
“He didn’t mind waiting. He understood timing and political calculation. That patience eventually paid off,” Baba-Ahmed stated.
The former vice-presidential candidate also expressed doubts about the capacity of the emerging opposition coalition to unseat President Tinubu in 2027, warning that the ruling establishment remains politically formidable.
According to him, the coalition lacks a unifying figure with the national appeal once enjoyed by Buhari, making it difficult to rally widespread support across the country.
“They don’t have a Buhari in this coalition,” he said. “If you don’t have a decent outlier, people will find it difficult to rally around such a person.”
Baba-Ahmed further revealed that he had cautioned coalition leaders against what he described as excessive optimism, insisting that President Tinubu understands the political game better than many of his opponents and could dismantle their strategies before the next election cycle.
His remarks are expected to reignite debate within opposition circles over leadership, succession planning and the search for a consensus candidate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
As political alignments continue to evolve, Baba-Ahmed’s comments underscore the growing battle for influence within Nigeria’s opposition ranks and raise fresh questions about whether Atiku’s long-standing presidential ambition can survive another electoral cycle.