Former Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Political Matters, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has openly advised both President Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar against contesting the 2027 presidential election, insisting that Nigeria desperately needs new, younger leaders to inject fresh energy into governance.
Baba-Ahmed made these remarks during an appearance on Channels Television's Politics Today programme on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. He emphasized that allowing the two veteran politicians to bow out would provide voters with a broader and more promising pool of candidates from the next generation.
“If I had my way, two people would not run in 2027. They will not run at all. They are President Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. They have a really good chance of giving Nigerians a choice to pick the best candidate,” he stated.
Focusing on President Tinubu, Baba-Ahmed argued that the leader has already achieved his lifelong ambition and should recognize his limitations moving forward. “The reason why President Tinubu shouldn’t run, I think, is that he has run out of steam. I don’t think that he has the capacity to continue to govern this country beyond 2027. I’m speaking honestly, without any prejudice to him. I think he’s fulfilled his ambition and become president of this country. By 2027, he would have served four years. It would have been the best time for President Tinubu to say, ‘I need a younger person. I need a healthier person. I need somebody who is more focused on governance.’”
He extended a similar plea to Atiku Abubakar, describing it as a patriotic duty for the former vice president to refrain from another bid. “And for Vice President Atiku, the same thing. They really owe this country the responsibility to say, ‘We don’t have to be presidents in 2027.’ The country needs fresh blood. The country needs a new lease of life.”
Baba-Ahmed's comments come amid heightened political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 polls, with discussions around opposition coalitions, party realignments, and generational shifts gaining traction. His candid assessment, coming from someone who once served closely in the current administration, adds weight to calls for renewal in Nigerian leadership and highlights concerns about continuity versus innovation in addressing the nation's challenges.
No immediate responses from President Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, or their camps have been reported on these specific remarks, but they align with Baba-Ahmed's recent critiques of established figures in both ruling and opposition circles.
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