Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, who previously contested as vice-presidential candidate under the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, has dismissed suggestions that opposition groups can successfully rally behind a single presidential flagbearer ahead of the 2027 polls.
He made this known on Tuesday while featuring on Politics Today, a current affairs programme aired on Channels Television. During the discussion, he reacted to the so-called Ibadan Declaration, an initiative reportedly championed by certain opposition stakeholders aiming to present a unified candidate to challenge incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election cycle.
Baba-Ahmed criticized the Ibadan gathering, pointing out that it did not reflect the full spectrum of opposition voices across the country. According to him, participation at the meeting was limited, as only individuals affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were present. He argued that such a selective assembly cannot legitimately claim to represent all opposition interests.
He further expressed doubts about the viability of the proposed alliance, stressing that the idea of a consolidated front is unrealistic given the existing divisions among opposition parties. In his view, the groups involved lack the cohesion and mutual trust necessary to agree on a single candidate capable of carrying a united mandate.
Reflecting on his own experience during the 2023 election, where he ran alongside Peter Obi, Baba-Ahmed added that even within the PDP, unity remains elusive. He noted that those who attended the Ibadan meeting do not speak for the entire party, as internal disagreements and factional disputes continue to shape its structure.
He insisted that it is misleading for just two political parties to portray themselves as the collective opposition, emphasizing that the broader political landscape includes multiple actors with differing agendas. As such, he believes the notion of presenting a single consensus candidate is impractical and unlikely to materialize.
Baba-Ahmed was particularly blunt in his assessment, describing the claim of a unified opposition as untrue. He maintained that reaching an agreement among the parties involved is virtually impossible, given their competing interests and lack of alignment.
He also alluded to ongoing rivalries within the PDP, suggesting that those who participated in the Ibadan discussions represent only a segment of the party, rather than its entirety. This, he argued, further weakens the credibility of the initiative.
In conclusion, Baba-Ahmed dismissed the entire concept as unworkable, stating that it should not even warrant serious consideration. According to him, the political realities on the ground make it clear that a single opposition candidate for the 2027 election is not a feasible outcome.
