Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Datti Baba-Ahmed has said only God can stop President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from winning the 2027 presidential election.
Baba-Ahmed made the remark during a television interview while discussing Nigeria’s political landscape and the strengths of major contenders ahead of the 2027 elections.
Although he said he disagreed with some of Tinubu’s policies, the former Labour Party presidential running mate acknowledged the President’s long-term political organisation and ability to build alliances.
According to Baba-Ahmed, Tinubu spent about 16 years building a political structure and played a significant role in bringing former President Muhammadu Buhari into an alliance ahead of the 2015 presidential election.
“Even though I don’t entirely agree with him, he did what others were not able to do. He organised for 16 years, not just planning,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He described Tinubu’s emergence as President in 2023 as an extraordinary political achievement and said the President had demonstrated an ability to pursue difficult and unconventional political strategies.
Baba-Ahmed also compared Tinubu’s political organisation with that of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, suggesting that Atiku could have encountered resistance from people around him in pursuing similar political strategies.
He further alleged that Tinubu currently exercises overwhelming influence over Nigeria’s political space and has weakened opposition efforts to form a united front.
“He (Tinubu) will not allow them (opposition) to come together. He probably actually chooses candidates in the opposition parties. He installs leadership in those political parties. He does what you and I cannot imagine,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed said that if Tinubu decided he would be declared President in 2027, only God could prevent it.
“If Tinubu says something will happen, only God Almighty can stop it. If he says he will be declared in 2027, only God Almighty can stop it,” he said.
