Datti Baba-Ahmed Alleges Tinubu's Rule Surpasses Military Regimes in Oppression

Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, who contested in the 2023 general elections, has expressed a strong opinion that President Bola Tinubu's current administration is more oppressive than the military governments previously led by Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, and Abdulsalami Abubakar. Appearing on The Mic-On Podcast, anchored by Seun Okinbaloye, Baba-Ahmed urged President Tinubu not to seek a second term in 2027, stating that the upcoming election would be a direct confrontation between the president and the Nigerian populace.

Baba-Ahmed accused the Tinubu government of employing what he termed “brute civil force” and utilizing state institutions to quash political opposition and dissent. He asserted that the current concentration of political power under this administration is unparalleled, even going as far as to suggest that past military leaders demonstrated more respect for constitutional tenets. He questioned, “Is it because we have an individual, because we have a civilian, that civilian is more than a maximum ruler? Because the person ruling Nigeria today is doing what even military rulers did not do.”

He explicitly compared Tinubu's style of governance with the eras of Babangida, Abacha, and Abubakar. Baba-Ahmed argued that these military figures, despite their authoritarian nature, still adhered to constitutional principles and exhibited what he described as discipline and restraint. “The military was so disciplined. They respected the Constitution. They had shame. They had principles. They had scruples. But now it is brute civil force. That's what we're experiencing in Nigeria,” he elaborated.

The former senator's advice to President Tinubu was to prepare to relinquish power and exit office upon the conclusion of his current tenure, rather than vying for the 2027 presidential election. Baba-Ahmed stated, “I would simply advise ‘Uncle’ to please prepare to hand over and move away, but not to the people contesting against him, because none of them will improve Nigeria.” When asked by the interviewer if this assessment included Peter Obi, Baba-Ahmed confirmed, saying, “None of that pack. Tinubu should leave the stage. All those people contesting against him, too, they were all in bed together at some point or another.” He specifically added, “Including Peter Obi,” when the Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate was mentioned.

Baba-Ahmed clarified that his position was not an endorsement of any existing political figure but a call for “a whole new Nigeria,” stressing the necessity for leadership beyond politicians who have previously been associated with established ruling parties. He challenged, “Tell me one politician who has never been in a ruling party. Tell me.”

Furthermore, the former senator criticized the National Assembly, alleging that the legislative arm has become excessively subservient to the executive, effectively functioning as an appendage of the presidency. He particularly condemned lawmakers for singing political songs in support of the president, arguing that such conduct undermines the legislature's independence. “A legislature must never be that compromised to the level of singing for those who are members of their party. Singing ‘On your mandate we shall stand,’” Baba-Ahmed remarked. He indicated that, if he were still a member of the House of Representatives, he would have taken measures to prevent such behavior.

Revisiting the 2023 presidential election, Baba-Ahmed alleged that the electronic transmission and reporting of results through the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) IReV platform were interrupted, leading to constitutional breaches. He questioned the circumstances surrounding the declaration of the presidential election results and highlighted the presence of the National Security Adviser in court during proceedings related to the election as a matter demanding answers. “From outside government, you had switched off IReV. From outside government, it was switched off. The Constitution was breached,” he claimed. He also sought clarification on the origin and reception date of a judgment document.

Baba-Ahmed has consistently maintained that the Labour Party ticket of Peter Obi and himself legitimately won the 2023 presidential election and that there were constitutional grounds to challenge President Tinubu's inauguration. Despite his strong criticisms of the current political framework, he dismissed military intervention as an alternative, asserting that “The only option to bad democracy is good democracy.” He advocated for “legitimate, active civil engagement” as the way forward, encouraging Nigerians to step out of their comfort zones and participate more actively in political processes. “The good people in Nigeria must come out, sacrifice their comfort, leave their comfort zones, come out and ride out, push out the bad elements that have been destroying Nigeria,” he urged. On the issue of insecurity, Baba-Ahmed contended that corruption lies at the core of Nigeria’s security crisis, claiming that its eradication would resolve the problem.