January 9, 2026 l Reporter: Johnson
ABUJA, Nigeria — Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), on Friday criticised perennial presidential aspirant Atiku Abubakar for repeatedly pursuing Nigeria’s highest office, saying the country urgently needs a new generation of leaders capable of addressing its deepening political and socio-economic challenges.
In an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Baba-Ahmed recalled his own political journey alongside Atiku, pointing out that the former Vice President has been a fixture in presidential politics for decades. “When I was doing my NYSC (National Youth Service Corps), Baba Atiku was already an aspirant,” he said, emphasising that he and Atiku first crossed paths in the 2018 presidential primaries, later again in 2023 — when Baba-Ahmed ran as a vice-presidential candidate and now potentially in the run-up to the 2027 election.
Baba-Ahmed argued that Nigeria’s political system is hostile to genuine reformers and discourages capable leaders through “expensive, difficult and treacherous” processes dominated by money politics, entrenched interests and political godfathers. He said the nation is not short of competent citizens ready to solve its problems, but the structure of political competition stifles their emergence.
“There is a need for a new generation of Nigerian leaders, and they do exist,” Baba-Ahmed said, stressing that young Nigerians are eager to effect change but are waiting for credible leadership to rally behind. “A whole new generation is waiting for a new leader to lead them to a new party.”
His remarks come amid speculation about Atiku’s continued bid for the presidency in 2027, potentially under the banner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a platform he joined after departing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The debate has reignited broader conversations about political renewal and generational transition within Nigeria’s opposition ranks.
Baba-Ahmed’s comments have stirred reaction among political observers and party loyalists, reflecting ongoing tensions within opposition groups about how best to challenge the ruling party and rejuvenate Nigeria’s leadership landscape.