Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum, has declared the Peoples Democratic Party “gone and beyond repair,” suggesting the African Democratic Congress could provide credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress. The PDP has faced persistent internal crises since the 2023 elections, losing multiple members and governors to the APC. Baba-Ahmed made the remarks Thursday during an Arise News program.
The former special adviser to Vice-President Kashim Shettima cautioned that the ADC must represent genuine change in Nigerian politics, offering distinct policy ideas rather than merely positioning itself as opposition. “Ask them today what they will do, beyond just simply opposing and hoping that they can unseat President Tinubu; they won’t tell you,” Baba-Ahmed said. He urged the party to recruit credible politicians and design concrete governance priorities for Nigeria’s future.
Baba-Ahmed warned against recycling familiar political figures, noting that 60 percent of Nigeria’s voters are young people seeking fresh leadership. “We don’t want to see the same old politicians coming forward. If you give me power, I’ll be different,” he said. He emphasized that Nigeria must be fixed, warning that democratic collapse would prove disastrous for both governance and citizens.