2027: Issues coalition must address to stand a chance – Datti Baba-Ahmed
In this interview on Trust TV, Datti Baba-Ahmed, the 2023 vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party, who was present at the adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the opposition coalition’s platform for 2027, discusses the challenges the coalition must overcome if it hopes to unseat President Bola Tinubu.
How would you situate what happened today (Wednesday) in the context of what it means for Nigerians?
Once again, here we go. Forces that are unhappy with the current government are coming together—just like they did once before—and they made history. That’s where we are now. It remains to be seen whether they’ll do anything different from that historic move of 2013–2014 that led to victory in 2015.
When something becomes a narrative, it’s safer to tag along. Because challenging a dominant narrative is a daunting task. Until people see the truth and feel it for themselves, they won’t understand anything you’re saying about that narrative.
Right now, the narrative is that everybody must come together to defeat Tinubu. But by what law? By what principle? It’s not true. Coming together is good—but that particular narrative is not true. In 2023, despite APC being the ruling party, Labour Party defeated both APC and PDP in many places without a coalition.
So that idea that you must unite to defeat Tinubu isn’t factual. But don’t get me wrong—I support coming together. As a Muslim, I can tell you unity is encouraged. I believe it’s the same in Christianity. People should unite for a common, honourable cause, but the cause must indeed be honourable. It must be in Nigeria’s interest. A coalition is the safer path. But it must be the right coalition—and it must do right.
But Nigerians are questioning this so-called “honourable cause” that is bringing this coalition together. The president has called it a gang-up. APC says it poses no threat. And now there are dissenting voices within ADC, claiming this is a hostile takeover that lacked full stakeholder buy-in. What exactly is this honourable cause?
You’re right. Ambitions must be suppressed. The things that truly defeat a sitting government—we haven’t seen those yet.
What are those things? You must have a consistent, unrelenting opposition to the government. Just look—how many weeks ago were the Benue killings? Then Kebbi. Then Plateau. This is after many others in the past two years.
Some people are out there promoting the coalition, and silently promoting their own political careers. Who is deliberately and strategically challenging the Tinubu administration’s misgovernance?
You’re dragging me to something I didn’t want to talk about, but let me say it: I still maintain that the Tinubu administration is questionably constitutional. If you read the constitution, this government is not consistent with it. But out of respect for the rule of law, I acknowledge that someone is operating as president of Nigeria. But he didn’t win the election. He didn’t.
But constitutionally, according to the rules, he does have the mandate.
That’s why I call it a junta. I respect the law. I respect the Supreme Court. But I call it a junta because of how they captured the Nigerian state. They didn’t win it—they captured it.
Look, nine out of 16 Nigerian leaders didn’t buy INEC forms. You don’t have to contest elections to become president in Nigeria.
Let’s go back to this “honourable cause.” People are calling it a strange coalition. People who don’t even align politically are now coming together.
You couldn’t be more correct. It is strange. But I was happy to see Nasir El-Rufai recognising his elder, our leader Atiku Abubakar—giving him due respect and all that. But yes, it’s strange. It’s unbelievable what people can do for power. They can come back and eat their words. They can retrace their steps. Strange bedfellows—absolutely. But let me say this: the fact that a coalition succeeded in defeating a sitting government once might be the exact reason it could fail this time.
People are underestimating Tinubu. Even Nigeria’s military rulers didn’t do what he’s doing. From councillor to president, this man has appointed, disappointed, installed, and removed at will. He is powerful. And they think with kid gloves they can remove this man from power?
The Democracy Day you celebrate? It’s Tinubu’s Democracy Day. The public holiday—moved because he wanted it moved.
But that didn’t start under his administration…
It doesn’t matter. He made it what it is. He influences everything. So, if you’re going to defeat a man this powerful, you’d better be ready. I don’t yet see anyone in this coalition who can scheme and plan over 16 years. With all due respect to Atiku, he has contested consistently—this will be the seventh time. But tell me: is there anyone else in the coalition who will say, “Let it be the other person, and I will support them”? I’m yet to see that. Everyone seems only interested in their own candidacy.
But what did Tinubu do? He invested in Buhari, unreliable as Buhari was. He backed him—and after Buhari, he took over. He stayed committed for 16 years and took it in 2023.
Tinubu gave Atiku the ACN in 2007. Gave it to Ribadu in 2011. Backed Buhari in 2015. And waited until 2023 to take it himself.
Sounds like you’re praising Tinubu?
No! I’m not praising him. I’m saying: to defeat this phenomenon called Tinubu, you must do the unthinkable.
If this coalition—which I recognise—thinks it’s business as usual, it won’t work. It has to be less about individual ambition and more about Nigeria. More action, less talk. Because talk is cheap.
How many people are willing to suppress their own ambition for the good of Nigeria? That’s the real issue.
Now, there are structural issues in the coalition. Back in 2013–2015, they had an outlier—Buhari. All the other aspirants stepped aside. It remains to be seen now whether, if one of these leaders wins, the others will support.
That’s a question mark. We don’t have a Buhari in this coalition—a figure who commanded 12 million votes in three consecutive elections. Atiku doesn’t fit that mould.
And you don’t have a Tinubu who is calculating, resourced, distant, and visionary—who saw 2023 coming and prepared long in advance. This coalition lacks those structural qualities. They need to fix that now.
Because Tinubu is the master of coalition politics. He knows every step. If you say, “Oh, we’ll make a coalition against him,” he already has the roadmap.
Yes, come together. Just to be clear—I believe in coalition. I believe in unity. And I support this coalition the same way I still believe that Labour Party remains a good platform.
Just to be clear, are you saying this coalition is doomed to fail?
No. I’m saying, specifically, what must be put in place for it to succeed.
Sounds like you have all the pieces: Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, former APC and PDP bigwigs…
Among them, who has ever stepped down and said, “I support the other person”?
It was early way back in 2007 when Tinubu played politics with Atiku and said, “Come and take it.” You have to plan, and hold that plan. You don’t come in haphazardly and say you’ll defeat someone who has been planning for decades.
Transcribed by Almustapha A. Mustapha
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