Former Northern Elders Forum spokesperson Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has criticised the ongoing coalition discussions among Nigeria’s opposition parties, citing concerns that entrenched political figures are prioritizing personal ambitions over collective progress.
Gatekeepers News reports that the coalition, led by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and ex-governor of Kaduna Nasir el-Rufai, has applied to register the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) as a political party ahead of the 2027 general election. However, Baba-Ahmed believes that the opportunity to build a strong opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is being undermined by the coalition’s leadership.
Speaking on Arise Television’s “Morning Show,” Baba-Ahmed highlighted deep divisions within the coalition, attributing the dysfunction to a leadership unwilling to relinquish control. “There are divisions among coalition members,” he said. “None of these people should lead or be seen in a position that they are determining who should be in that coalition.”
Baba-Ahmed emphasized the need for a generational shift and a political shift away from the current leaders, who he believes have become synonymous with the status quo. “What they need is a generational shift and a political shift away from who they are, what they have done, and what they want to do,” he said. “Different kinds of Nigerians who can give Nigerians hope, than people who have become vice-president and contested three times, become governors and ministers.”
The former special adviser on political matters to Vice-President Kashim Shettima also questioned whether the coalition leaders are any better than the APC, suggesting that without a fundamental change in leadership and vision, the opposition risks repeating the failures of the ruling party.
“A broad spectrum of Nigerians are skeptical of the current leaders of the coalition and about their ability to offer a genuine alternative to the President Bola Tinubu administration,” Baba-Ahmed said. “They don’t have faith that you actually represent a different future from this government, you just want to replace the government of President Tinubu.”
Baba-Ahmed called for the coalition to showcase fresh ideas and elevate young Nigerians who embody energy and new perspectives, warning that without this shift, the opposition will struggle to gain traction.
