Former Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has said both President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should not contest the 2027 presidential election, insisting that Nigeria urgently needs fresh leadership.
Baba-Ahmed made the remarks on Tuesday while appearing on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Channels Television.
According to him, both political heavyweights have a responsibility to allow Nigerians choose from a new generation of leaders, arguing that their decision to step aside would widen the pool of credible options for voters.
He stated that if he had his way, neither Tinubu nor Atiku would run in 2027, stressing that the country would be better served by younger, healthier, and more governance-focused leaders.
Baba-Ahmed expressed concerns about President Tinubu’s capacity to continue governing beyond 2027, noting that the president would have completed a four-year term by then and should consider handing over power.
“I had an interview here where I said that 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,” he said.
He added, “The reason why President Tinubu shouldn’t run is that I think he has run out of steam. I don’t think he has the capacity to continue to govern this country beyond 2027. I’m speaking honestly, without any prejudice to him. By 2027, he would have served four years. That would be the best time for him to say, ‘I need a younger person, a healthier person, someone more focused on governance.’”
Baba-Ahmed also extended the same argument to Atiku Abubakar, saying the former vice president owes the country the responsibility of not seeking the presidency again.
“For Vice President Atiku, the same thing applies. They 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,” he said.
His comments come amid growing political discussions and early manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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