Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, has said the most significant contribution former Vice President Atiku Abubakar could make to Nigeria’s democratic future is to abandon any plan to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Baba-Ahmed made the remarks on Thursday during an appearance on The Morning Show on Arise News Television, where he argued that Atiku stepping aside would send a powerful message to Nigerians that a new political culture is possible, rather than a continuation of what he described as the recycling of familiar political figures.
The former spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum said the decision not to run in 2027 would be entirely within Atiku’s control and could fundamentally reshape opposition politics ahead of the next general election.
“And of all those things, it has to be something that Atiku could do. One of them is not to keep insisting that he has to run. And I will give you my reasons,” Baba-Ahmed said during the programme.
According to him, such a move would be a dramatic break from established political patterns and could inspire confidence among Nigerians who are increasingly disillusioned with the political class. He suggested that Atiku’s withdrawal would create space for fresh leadership and ideas, while demonstrating a willingness to put national interest above personal ambition.
Despite urging Atiku to reconsider his presidential ambition, Baba-Ahmed acknowledged the former vice president’s political strength within the Allied Democratic Congress (ADC). He described Atiku as the most qualified aspirant likely to emerge from the party’s convention, citing his experience, nationwide political network, strong organisational structures, and loyal support base.
“Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has the experience, the spread, better structures, and more loyal people, and he understands the mechanics of internal party dynamics better than the others,” he said. “The ADC’s ticket is up for grabs, but it will be a challenging task for anybody to get it other than Atiku Abubakar.”
Baba-Ahmed also criticised suggestions that the party’s presidential ticket should be reserved for a particular individual, warning that such calls undermine democratic principles.
“Those saying the ticket must be given to a particular individual are going against democratic processes,” he said.
Nevertheless, he insisted that Atiku’s most significant legacy would come not from another presidential run, but from a deliberate decision to step aside. He argued that such an action would be seen as a selfless contribution to Nigeria’s democratic development after decades of political participation.
“You’ve got to do something that is so dramatically outside the box that Nigerians can sit up and say, ‘these are not just another recycled politician trying to replace Tinubu,” Baba-Ahmed added.
His comments come amid growing debate within opposition circles about leadership renewal, generational change, and strategy as the 2027 elections draw closer, with many Nigerians calling for alternatives to long-standing political figures.
