Vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has described the race for the presidential ticket within the newly formed coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its greatest challenge ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, Baba-Ahmed cautioned that while public excitement about the new opposition alliance is understandable, it must be carefully managed to avoid unrealistic expectations.
On Wednesday, key opposition figures—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai—unveiled the ADC as the platform to rally against the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Both Amaechi and Obi have publicly spoken in support of a one-term presidency idea, while Atiku is rumored to be considering another presidential bid.
But Baba-Ahmed noted that, unlike the 2015 merger that led to the creation of the All Progressives Congress (APC)—which had a clear consensus on Muhammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate—the ADC coalition does not yet have a “distantly anointed” flag bearer. He warned that this could trigger a fierce internal contest for the ticket.
> “Don’t be consumed by the excitement. Manage it. Nigerians are understandably excited because they are depressed and oppressed. But if we don’t manage expectations, this could spiral,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He explained that the APC’s success in 2015 was partly due to its early backing of Buhari, who was widely accepted by coalition leaders long before the primaries. In contrast, the current ADC alliance lacks a similar structure and may experience tensions during the selection process.
> “There are structural concerns in this coalition. Unlike APC in 2015, where Buhari was seen as the chosen one from the start, this coalition has no clear front-runner. The primary election could become tightly contested and possibly messy,” he warned.
Baba-Ahmed concluded by raising critical questions about what would follow such a contest, urging stakeholders to focus on building a sustainable and unified front.
