BY JULIET EKWENUGO
Abuja
A political pressure group, the Omoluabi Coalition, has criticised former presidential aide, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, over his recent interventions in opposition politics, saying he lacks the democratic authority to dictate who should or should not contest the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its Convener, Olumide Obayemi, the coalition described Baba-Ahmed’s public calls on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 race as inappropriate and divisive.
The group argued that seeking elective office remains a constitutional right of every Nigerian and should be determined by political realities and party processes, rather than the views of what it described as “self-appointed political gatekeepers.”
The coalition also expressed concern that since Baba-Ahmed’s widely reported exit from President Bola Tinubu’s administration, he has refrained from offering strong criticism of government policies despite what it called widespread economic hardship and social distress across the country.
Instead, it alleged that Baba-Ahmed has focused his interventions on opposition figures and parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a development it said raises questions about his neutrality.
“It is ironic that someone who claims to be non-partisan appears silent on the failures of the government but very vocal in criticising the opposition,” the statement said.
The Omoluabi Coalition further faulted Baba-Ahmed’s comments on succession debates, zoning, and leadership aspirations, especially his stance on agitations from the South-East, noting that Nigerians from all regions have the right to articulate political positions within the bounds of democracy.
According to the group, supporters of different political actors, including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, are entitled to canvass their views without being delegitimised or portrayed as threats to national cohesion.
“No individual has the moral or democratic authority to criminalise political demands simply because he disagrees with them,” the coalition said.
The group accused Baba-Ahmed of actions capable of deepening divisions within the opposition, warning that such developments could weaken collective efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It also raised concerns over what it described as consistent public hostility towards Peter Obi by members of Baba-Ahmed’s family, suggesting this could reinforce perceptions of a coordinated attempt to fuel discord among opposition supporters.
The coalition urged Nigerians to critically assess the motives behind political commentaries that, in its view, focus more on opposition figures than on holding the ruling party accountable.
“Nigeria needs constructive engagement that prioritises national recovery, not interventions that weaken the opposition at a critical moment,” the statement added.
