Datti Baba-Ahmed says defeating Tinubu in 2027 demands more than alliances, it requires sacrifice.
He warns that only bold strategy and unity beyond ambition can challenge entrenched political power.
Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, has stated that removing President Bola Tinubu from power in 2027 will demand far more than political coalitions it will require what he described as “the unthinkable.”
During an interview on Trust TV, Baba-Ahmed expressed doubt about the readiness and depth of the emerging opposition alliance, which currently comprises parties like the Labour Party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), and other smaller blocs.
“To take on this phenomenon called Tinubu, you must do the unthinkable,” he asserted. “If this coalition which I acknowledge approaches 2027 with business as usual, it will fail. It has to be driven by genuine national interest, not individual ambition. More action, less rhetoric. Because talk is cheap.”
He warned that surface-level unity or conventional politics would be insufficient to challenge President Tinubu’s stronghold on Nigerian power structures.
“People are underestimating Tinubu,” Baba-Ahmed said. “Even military rulers in Nigeria didn’t consolidate control the way he has. From councilor to president, he has appointed, removed, and installed leaders across every level of government. That is raw political power.”
He also highlighted Tinubu’s strategic foresight, pointing to the president’s past political moves. “He gave Atiku the ACN in 2007, handed it to Ribadu in 2011, supported Buhari in 2015, and only in 2023 did he step in to take it for himself.”
While Baba-Ahmed expressed continued support for the opposition coalition and reiterated his confidence in the Labour Party’s potential, he emphasized that winning in 2027 would require extraordinary sacrifice and unity.
“The key question is: how many are willing to set aside personal ambition for Nigeria’s future?” he asked. “You don’t walk into a decades-long power structure without planning, discipline, and selflessness and expect to win.”
He concluded by cautioning that success would only come with strategy, humility, and a clear break from old political habits.
