Coalition leaders divided — they aren’t better than APC, says Hakeem Baba-Ahmed

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has criticised the ongoing coalition discussion among Nigeria’s opposition parties.

Opposition leaders under the coalition movement have applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) as a political party ahead of the 2027 general election.

The coalition is spearheaded by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and ex-governor of Kaduna Nasir el-Rufai.

Speaking on the ‘Morning Show’, an Arise Television programme, on Monday, Baba-Ahmed voiced concern that the opportunity to build a strong opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is being undermined by entrenched political figures prioritising their personal ambitions over collective progress.

The former special adviser on political matters to Vice-President Kashim Shettima 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.

“They can work behind the scenes. 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.

“Different kinds of Nigerians who can give Nigerians hope, than people who have become vice-president and contested three times, become governors and ministers.”

Baba-Ahmed added that a broad spectrum of Nigerians are sceptical of the current leaders of the coalition and about their ability to offer a genuine alternative to the President Bola Tinubu administration.

“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 said.

He highlighted the need for the coalition to showcase fresh ideas and elevate young Nigerians who embody energy and new perspectives.

Baba-Ahmed questioned whether 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.