Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has said that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar could have positioned himself to win the 2027 presidential election if he had supported Labour Party candidate Peter Obi during the 2023 general election.
Baba-Ahmed made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television, where he reflected on opposition strategy and political alignments ahead of future elections.
He argued that a different decision in 2023 could have reshaped the outcome of the next electoral cycle.
“If in 2023 elections, he called Peter Obi and me and said, ‘You are my juniors, I’ll support you,’ I would have agreed,” he said. “I would have told Peter Obi to agree.”
He added that such a move could have strengthened Atiku’s long-term political position.
“Atiku would have been the 2027 president of Nigeria if so had happened,” he stated.
Baba-Ahmed compared Atiku’s approach with that of President Bola Tinubu, whom he described as a politician who builds influence over time through strategic alliances.
He referenced Tinubu’s past political decisions, including his support for Atiku in 2007 and former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, saying those choices reflected long-term planning.
According to him, patience played a key role in Tinubu’s political rise.
“That patience, those in this group don’t have it,” he said, referring to opposition figures.
Baba-Ahmed also commented on the current opposition coalition, noting that it lacks a widely accepted figure capable of uniting different blocs.
“They didn’t have a Buhari in this coalition,” he said, referring to a consensus-style candidate.
He added that he had earlier warned the coalition against overconfidence, arguing that internal competition and ambition could weaken their chances.
“They took offence,” he said, describing their reaction to his advice.
Baba-Ahmed further suggested that Tinubu understands opposition dynamics and is well positioned to respond to political strategies from rival camps.
His comments come amid ongoing debates about how opposition forces may reorganize ahead of the 2027 general election.
