The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has rejected Datti Baba-Ahmed’s claim that none of the major contenders in the 2027 presidential election has what it takes to improve Nigeria.
Adebayo said Baba-Ahmed’s assessment was likely influenced by his personal experiences with politicians he had previously worked with and should not be extended to candidates he had never dealt with.
He made the statement during an interview on Arise TV’s News Night on Sunday.
“Senator Datti is talking from experience, the intimate relationship with people he has dealt with, so limit it to that. He can’t be talking about people like us, whom he has not dealt with,” Adebayo said.
Baba-Ahmed, who was Peter Obi’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election, had made the remark during an appearance on the Mic On Podcast on Saturday.
He had advised President Bola Tinubu to prepare to leave office in 2027 but argued that none of the opposition figures seeking to replace him would improve the country.
“I will simply advise uncle (Tinubu) to please prepare to hand over and move away, but not to the people contesting against him,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He added that the politicians challenging Tinubu had previously been associated with one another politically, including Obi, who was formerly a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Reacting to the comments, Adebayo suggested that Baba-Ahmed’s experience with Obi may have influenced his assessment of other presidential contenders.
“Maybe his experience with Governor Peter Obi has convinced him that that one cannot make a good president,” he said.
Adebayo also pointed to Baba-Ahmed’s previous involvement with the PDP, arguing that his experience with politicians he had worked with could explain his assessment of the political class.
“He was in the PDP before, so he knows them, but I think he can’t include me,” Adebayo said.
“So you mean to bring him to your studio and ask him if that includes me? I don’t think so,” he added.
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