ATIKU ON WINNING 2027 IF...

Atiku Would Have Won 2027 If He Backed Obi in 2023 — Baba-Ahmed

A former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has argued that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar missed a key political opportunity in the 2023 presidential election, claiming it could have positioned him for victory in 2027.

Baba-Ahmed made the statement during a televised interview, where he reflected on the dynamics of the opposition during the 2023 election cycle and the strategic decisions made by major political actors.

Claim on 2023 opposition strategy

He stated that if Atiku had supported Peter Obi’s presidential bid in 2023 instead of contesting against him, the political outcome would have strengthened Atiku’s long-term chances.

According to him, a united opposition front behind Obi would have created stronger political goodwill and strategic alignment ahead of the next election cycle, potentially making Atiku the preferred consensus candidate later on.

Reference to political “patience” strategy

Baba-Ahmed compared this scenario to what he described as long-term political strategy used by experienced politicians, where support is offered to others in one election cycle in order to secure broader influence in future contests.

He suggested that such coordination could have reshaped opposition politics heading into 2027, reducing fragmentation and improving electoral competitiveness.

Broader political implication

The comments highlight ongoing debates within Nigeria’s opposition about unity, coalition-building, and vote splitting—issues that significantly influenced the 2023 presidential election outcome.

Analysts have repeatedly pointed out that divided opposition votes contributed to the ruling party’s advantage, a situation opposition figures continue to reassess as preparations begin for the 2027 elections.

Context going forward

With political realignments already forming ahead of 2027, discussions around coalition strategy, party loyalty, and candidate selection are becoming central themes in Nigeria’s emerging election landscape.

Baba-Ahmed’s remarks add to this ongoing debate about whether earlier political compromise could have altered the trajectory of opposition politics in Nigeria.

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