The presidential candidate for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has fired back at Datti Baba-Ahmed, pushing back against his bleak assessment that none of the leading contenders for the 2027 presidential election possess the capability to salvage Nigeria.
Adebayo argued on Arise TV’s News Night that Baba-Ahmed’s sweeping conclusion was likely shaped by his own past dealings with politicians, and shouldn't be applied to candidates he hasn't directly worked with.
“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 hasn’t dealt with,” Adebayo stated on Sunday.
Baba-Ahmed, who previously served as the running mate to Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election, had voiced his critical opinion on Saturday during an appearance on the Mic On Podcast. He notably advised President Bola Tinubu to ready himself for a handover, but suggested the opposition figures vying to replace him weren't up to the task.
“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 had said. “Because none of them will improve Nigeria. All those people contesting against him too were all in bed together at some point or another — including Peter Obi. At some point, he was in PDP.”
Adebayo suggested that Baba-Ahmed’s experience with Obi, the Labour Party candidate, might have coloured his view of other presidential hopefuls. “Maybe his experience with Governor Peter Obi has convinced him that that one can’t make a good president,” Adebayo mused.
Elaborating further on Baba-Ahmed’s perspective, Adebayo pointed out Baba-Ahmed’s own history with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before his alliance with Obi. He reasoned that this past involvement likely gave him intimate knowledge of certain politicians, but stressed it didn't extend to everyone.
“He was in the PDP before, so he knows them, but I think he can't include me,” Adebayo insisted. “So you mean to bring him to your studio and ask him if that includes me? I don't think so.”
Adewole Adebayo, the SDP presidential candidate, is a lawyer and politician known for his focus on constitutional law and his advocacy for a restructured Nigeria. He's previously run for governor of Ondo State. Datti Baba-Ahmed, a former senator from Kaduna State, has been a vocal critic of the current administration and has expressed concerns about the country's leadership trajectory.