ABUJA — Prominent northern elder and political commentator, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has strongly criticised ongoing efforts to form a political coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the move as self-serving and lacking in national purpose.
Speaking in an interview on Arise News, Baba-Ahmed, a senior member of the Northern Elders Forum, distanced himself from the coalition talks, clarifying that he has no involvement in the negotiations. “Let me be fair and say that I’m not involved at all, at any level, in the coalition discussions,” he stated.
He expressed concern over the direction of the discussions, lamenting that the process is being dominated by familiar political figures who have previously held positions of power without delivering meaningful change.
“These are people who have been governors, vice-presidents, ministers; some of them have contested three times for president,” he noted. “Now they are telling Nigerians, ‘trust us again.’ But Nigerians can see through that. They don’t represent a different future.”
According to Baba-Ahmed, the coalition’s key flaw lies in its top-down approach, with established politicians deciding outcomes internally before presenting them to the public. He called the method exclusionary and counterproductive to building a credible opposition.
“It’s the wrong approach. They meet, agree among themselves, and say, ‘We’ve decided this one will be this, and that one will be that.’ Then they invite Nigerians in. That’s not how to build a credible opposition,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed advocated for a generational and ideological shift, urging political veterans to step aside and allow credible new voices to lead. “They can work behind the scenes, but new faces must emerge to give Nigerians real hope,” he asserted.
He also criticised the absence of a clear and people-centered vision from the coalition promoters, stressing that without a genuine plan to address the country’s challenges, the effort risks failing to inspire public trust.
“Where is the vision? Where are the younger Nigerians who should be leading this country? Where is the concern that violence is destroying our communities?” he asked. “Politics should be about the people, not just about getting rid of President Tinubu.”
Baba-Ahmed warned that unless a coherent, inclusive, and visionary alternative emerges, the current opposition risks handing another electoral victory to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
