Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, national chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), has thrown down the gauntlet, declaring that President Bola Tinubu will suffer an early defeat in the 2027 election—if the process is credible. But he warns that rigging the poll could push millions of angry Nigerians to the brink, endangering the country’s future.
In a no-holds-barred interview on Channels Television, Baba-Ahmed made his position crystal clear:
“If it is a credible, free and fair election, I assure you Tinubu will lose. I won’t say before 12 noon, maybe before 4 pm in the evening.”
But the PRP chairman didn’t stop there. He issued a stark warning to those who might consider manipulating the electoral process:
“If it is not (credible), I foresee a very serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy. There are people out there, millions who are very angry. They desperately want an opportunity to express their anger through the ballot, and it is very important that we allow them to exercise that right. Play around with that, and you are playing around with the future of this country.”
‘APC Is a Monster Eating Itself’
Despite his confidence in a potential opposition victory, Baba-Ahmed acknowledged the steep climb ahead. He described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a formidable—but self-destructive—force:
“APC is a monster eating itself up and eating everybody up. You have a party that has a president that is quite possibly the most powerful president who has been given by the people around him the most awesome powers to do anything he wants to do, including the national assembly.”
He noted that Tinubu has allegedly amassed support from 31 governors and approximately 75% of the National Assembly, yet still operates from a position of fear:
“He appears to have garnered 31 governors and quite possibly about 75 percent of the national assembly around him in his party, and he is still living in fear that it is not enough.”
Osun 2022 as a Blueprint
Drawing inspiration from the Osun State governorship election—where the opposition defeated the APC—Baba-Ahmed expressed optimism that a similar upset could be replicated at the national level in 2027.
He also took aim at President Tinubu for recently defending INEC against allegations of bias, arguing that no one should praise the electoral body until it conducts a truly transparent election involving the president himself.
Key Takeaways
· PRP chairman predicts early defeat for Tinubu in a credible election
· Warns of democratic instability if the electoral process is compromised
· Describes APC as a “monster” consuming itself despite controlling 31 governors
· Cites Osun election as proof that APC can be defeated
· Criticises Tinubu’s defence of INEC, calling for proof through action
