Atiku Would’ve Won 2027 Presidency If He Supported Obi In 2023 - Baba Ahmed

Datti Baba-Ahmed, the former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate

Atiku Would’ve Won 2027 Presidency If He Supported Obi In 2023 - Baba Ahmed

In a recent interview on Inside Sources with Channels Television, Datti Baba-Ahmed, the former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, made a striking political observation.

He argued that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar could have secured the presidency in 2027 had he chosen to support Peter Obi during the 2023 elections instead of pursuing his own bid.

Baba-Ahmed explained that Atiku missed a strategic opportunity to emulate President Bola Tinubu’s political patience and tactical generosity. Tinubu, he noted, had previously offered his party’s platform to other politicians, including Atiku in 2007 and Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, while carefully planning for his own eventual rise to power.

According to Baba-Ahmed, if Atiku had surprised the political landscape by backing Obi and himself in 2023, he would have earned the goodwill necessary to become the consensus candidate in 2027.

He emphasized that Tinubu’s patience and ability to “tie opponents with their own rope” was a decisive factor in his success. By contrast, Baba-Ahmed criticized opposition figures for their “excessive excitement” and lack of long-term strategy, warning that Tinubu’s political acumen would dismantle any poorly thought-out coalition plans. He further cautioned that without a unifying figure like Buhari, opposition coalitions would struggle to rally widespread support.

Baba-Ahmed also highlighted the importance of political timing and restraint, pointing out that figures such as Rotimi Amaechi seemed to understand the value of waiting, unlike others in the opposition who rushed into contests without strategic foresight.

In essence, Baba-Ahmed’s remarks paint a picture of missed opportunities and flawed calculations within Nigeria’s opposition politics. His analysis suggests that Atiku’s decision to contest in 2023, rather than support Obi, may have cost him the chance to consolidate power and emerge as the natural choice for 2027.

This commentary underscores the broader lesson that in Nigerian politics, patience, alliances, and strategic sacrifices often determine future victories more than immediate ambition.