A former Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has called on President Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to stay away from the 2027 presidential election, saying Nigeria urgently needs fresh leadership and new ideas.
Baba-Ahmed made the statement on Tuesday during an interview on Politics Today, a current affairs programme aired on Channels Television. His comments have since sparked wide public debate, coming at a time when discussions about the 2027 general elections are gradually gaining attention across the country.
According to Baba-Ahmed, both President Tinubu and Atiku have played major roles in Nigeria’s political history and should now allow a new generation of leaders to emerge. He argued that their decision to step aside would give Nigerians a wider and better choice of candidates in the next election.
“If I had my way, two people would not run in 2027,” he said. “They are President Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. They have a really good chance of giving Nigerians a choice to pick the best candidate.”
Baba-Ahmed, a respected public commentator and former government official, said his position was not driven by personal dislike or political bias. Rather, he said it was based on what he believes is in the best interest of the country.
Speaking specifically about President Tinubu, Baba-Ahmed suggested that the president may not have the capacity to continue governing beyond his current term, which ends in 2027. He pointed out that by then, Tinubu would have served four years in office and achieved his long-standing ambition of becoming Nigeria’s president.
“The reason why President Tinubu shouldn’t run is that I think he has run out of steam,” Baba-Ahmed said. “I don’t think that he has the capacity to continue to govern this country beyond 2027. I’m speaking honestly, without any prejudice to him.”
President Tinubu, who took office in May 2023, came to power after decades in active politics. A former senator and two-term governor of Lagos State, Tinubu is widely regarded as one of the most influential political figures in Nigeria. His supporters credit him with strong political strategy and leadership, especially during his time as Lagos governor.
However, his presidency has faced serious challenges. Since assuming office, Nigeria has struggled with high inflation, rising cost of living, fuel subsidy removal, currency instability and widespread economic hardship. While the government says its reforms are necessary to fix long-standing problems, many Nigerians are yet to feel positive results in their daily lives.
Baba-Ahmed argued that by 2027, it would be the right time for Tinubu to hand over to someone younger, healthier and more focused on governance.
“It would have been the best time for President Tinubu to say, ‘I need a younger person. I need a healthier person. I need somebody who is more focused on governance,’” he said.
He expressed a similar view about former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who has contested the presidency multiple times. Atiku, who served as vice president from 1999 to 2007 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, which he lost to Tinubu.
Atiku has been a central figure in Nigerian politics for over three decades. Despite his experience and wide political network, his repeated attempts at the presidency have drawn mixed reactions from the public, especially among younger voters who are calling for generational change.
Baba-Ahmed said Atiku also owes the country a responsibility to step aside and allow new leaders to take charge.
“And for Vice President Atiku, the same thing,” he said. “They really owe this country the responsibility to say, ‘We don’t have to be presidents in 2027.’”
According to Baba-Ahmed, Nigeria is at a critical point in its history and needs fresh energy to move forward. He said the country needs leaders who understand the struggles of ordinary Nigerians and can offer practical solutions to pressing problems such as unemployment, insecurity, poor education and weak healthcare.
“The country needs fresh blood,” he said. “The country needs a new lease of life.”
His comments come amid growing calls from civil society groups and young Nigerians for a shift away from older political figures who have dominated the political space since the return to democracy in 1999. Many argue that while experience is important, Nigeria also needs innovation, accountability and leaders who can connect with a younger population.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, with a large percentage of its population under the age of 35. This demographic reality has strengthened arguments for younger leadership that reflects the country’s population structure.
Baba-Ahmed’s remarks have drawn mixed reactions. Supporters of President Tinubu and Atiku have criticised him, saying leadership should be based on competence and vision, not age. Others, however, have welcomed his views, describing them as honest and timely.