Former spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is no longer salvageable, arguing that years of internal conflict and post-2023 defections have left the party politically exhausted.
Speaking on Thursday during an interview on Arise News, Baba-Ahmed said the PDP’s prolonged crisis has weakened its ability to function as a serious opposition force, insisting that the party has drifted too far to be fixed.
“The PDP is drifting away. I think it is gone, and I do not believe anyone can fix it,” he said.
He noted that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) can be challenged by other platforms, naming the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a possible alternative capable of building a credible opposition.
“The PDP is not the only party capable of providing a credible opposition to the APC; there is the ADC and others,” Baba-Ahmed added.
However, the former special adviser on political matters to Vice-President Kashim Shettima warned that the ADC must distinguish itself clearly from existing political formations. According to him, merely positioning itself as an opposition party without concrete ideas would not resonate with Nigerians.
“Ask them today what they will do, beyond just simply opposing and hoping that they can unseat President Tinubu; they won’t tell you,” he said.
He stressed the need for the party to articulate clear policy directions ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Somebody in this party should be saying to Nigerians, if you trust us in 2027, these are the things we will do,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He further urged the ADC to aggressively recruit credible politicians across party lines and build a united opposition focused on a long-term national vision.
“They must embark on massive recruitment of credible politicians, including colleagues that will come from other parties, rallying around the opposition, and designing a future for this country,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed also cautioned against presenting familiar political figures as symbols of change, warning that voters are increasingly frustrated with recycled leadership.
“We don’t want to see the same old politicians coming forward. If you give me power, I’ll be different,” he said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s youthful population, he noted that young voters are demanding a break from the past.
“Sixty percent of Nigerians will be voting now. They are young people. They want new people. They want new faces. They want new energies,” he said.
He concluded by warning that Nigeria’s democratic stability is at stake, stressing that failure to fix the country’s political system would have far-reaching consequences for both governance and citizens.
Baba-Ahmed said the collapse of Nigeria’s democracy would be a major national tragedy, underscoring the urgency of rebuilding credible political alternatives.
Read more news on www.newdailyprime.news
