Hakeem Baba Ahmed, former Political Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, has confirmed significant divisions among key figures leading the coalition aimed at unseating the president in the 2027 elections.
Speaking on Monday during an Arise TV morning program, Ahmed revealed he had conversations with several opposition bigwigs and observed concerning fractures within their ranks.
Coalition Struggles and Leadership Issues
"I'm not involved in the coalition discussion. I am just observing with a lot of worries that an opportunity to create a strong opposition to the ruling party is being messed up by people who insist they must be the face of that opposition," Ahmed stated.
The former presidential adviser criticized the approach taken by the coalition leaders, describing it as exclusionary and self-serving. "There are divisions between and among them. It is a coalition of a few politicians, who thought that they could arrive at some understanding and then open the door and say 'fellow Nigerians, we have agreed that this one will be this one and this one will be that,'" he explained.
Ahmed particularly highlighted the absence of youth representation in the coalition talks, suggesting that established politicians including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and Labour Party's Peter Obi were missing a crucial opportunity for renewal.
"None of these people should lead or be in a position to determine who should be in the coalition, they can work behind the scene," Ahmed insisted. "Who are the younger Nigerians that should be at this party? Where are the youths? They are missing the point. They think that politics is about them but it is not."
New Party Formation Efforts
Recent reports indicated that the opposition coalition had begun moves to register a new political party called All Democratic Alliance (ADA). However, Atiku's camp subsequently clarified that the former Vice President has not officially adopted this name.
The coalition efforts come as various opposition figures seek to present a united front against President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential elections, though Ahmed's revelations suggest significant hurdles remain in achieving this unity.
Political analysts note that the success of any opposition coalition will depend on whether these prominent figures can set aside personal ambitions and work toward a common goal—something that appears increasingly challenging based on the current divisions.
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