Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, has said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar remains the strongest contender for the Allied Democratic Congress presidential ticket, yet should consider stepping aside ahead of the 2027 election.
Baba-Ahmed made the remarks on Thursday, January 22, during an appearance on Arise News Television’s The Morning Show.
He acknowledged that Atiku’s political pedigree places him ahead of other aspirants within the ADC, citing his experience, nationwide reach, and firm grasp of party politics.
“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.
“The ADC’s ticket is up for grabs, but it will be a very difficult task for anybody to get it other than Atiku Abubakar,” Baba-Ahmed said.
Despite this advantage, he argued that Atiku’s most meaningful contribution to Nigeria’s democracy would be to abandon any plan to contest in 2027.
“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,” he said.
According to Baba-Ahmed, such a decision would send a powerful message that Nigeria’s political culture can move beyond familiar faces and entrenched ambitions.
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He described stepping aside as a deliberate action fully within Atiku’s control and one that could reshape opposition politics ahead of the next general election.
Baba-Ahmed also criticised suggestions that the ADC’s ticket should be reserved for any individual, warning that such thinking runs contrary to democratic principles.
“Those saying the ticket must be given to a particular individual are going against democratic processes,” he said.
While stressing that Atiku is best positioned to secure the ADC ticket, Baba-Ahmed maintained that leadership sometimes requires restraint.
“The most important thing that ADC can do, and the single most important commitment that Atiku can make to this country after all his years of labour and striving to build the democratic process in this country, is to decide not to run for president in 2027,” he said.
“You’ve got to do something that is so dramatically outside the box that Nigerians can sit up and say, ah, these are not just another recycled politician trying to replace Tinubu,” he added.
His comments have added fresh momentum to debates over succession, renewal, and the future direction of the opposition as 2027 approaches.