Weeks after resigning, Tinubu’s former aide sends appeal to Atiku

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former Political Adviser to the President in the Office of the Vice President has appealed to Atiku Abubakar to shelve his ambition to contest Nigeria’s number one office in 2027.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Baba-Ahmed urged Atiku to focus on supporting a younger and vibrant presidential candidate in the next election.

Baba-Ahmed said it was time for the former Vice President to forgo his long-standing ambition to become Nigeria’s President and play a fatherly role to someone youthful and capable.

A former spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Baba-Ahmed said, “If I had the chance, I’d tell Atiku the same thing. He’s done his bit. He’s been persistent. But now, he should play a fatherly role—help identify and support younger leaders.”

He further stated that he is convinced the opposition – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party – can compete strongly in the 2027 election if both parties are able to present younger, healthy and vibrant candidates.

He said, “If they present someone younger, with fewer skeletons, better health and fresh ideas, they could wipe the floor with the APC. This country is hungry for leadership with vision and empathy.”