NORTH TO DECIDE 2027 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN SIX MONTHS, SAYS HAKEEM BABA-AHMED. (PHOTO).

 North to Decide 2027 Presidential Election in Six Months, Says Hakeem Baba-Ahmed

Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, has declared that the northern region will determine its stance on the 2027 presidential election within the next six months. Speaking in a Hausa-language interview alongside Professor Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Baba-Ahmed emphasized the North’s pivotal role in Nigerian politics, stating, “No one becomes Nigeria’s president without the North.”

Baba-Ahmed asserted that the region is seeking a government capable of addressing its pressing challenges. Reflecting on the eight-year tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari and the current administration, he expressed frustration over the North’s persistent struggles. “After Buhari, we became wiser. Now, we’re still crying. Is that all we know how to do?” he questioned.

Highlighting the unifying impact of the Boko Haram insurgency, which he said affected all northern communities—Muslims, Christians, Fulani, and Baju alike—Baba-Ahmed called for political awareness and unity. “Politicians think they can just show up and expect Northerners to fall in line. Who are they?” he challenged.

He issued a stern warning against electoral manipulation in 2027, stating, “If anyone is planning to rig, they should think again. It won’t end well for Nigeria.” Baba-Ahmed stressed that the North—elders, youths, and interest groups—is vigilant and prepared to resist further marginalization.

Urging Northerners to prioritize competence and integrity over religious or ethnic considerations, he said, “We’re tired of voting based on religion or tribe. That era is over. We want a leader who will fix our problems.”