2027: Northerners Will Reject APC Over Hardship, Insecurity, Baba-Ahmed Predicts

The National Chairman of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has predicted that voters in Northern Nigeria could reject the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections over worsening insecurity, poverty and economic hardship.

Baba-Ahmed also warned President Bola Tinubu against compromising the credibility of the forthcoming elections, cautioning that any attempt to manipulate the outcome could trigger a serious political crisis.

The PRP chairman stated this during a televised interview while responding to conflicting opinions among northern leaders and political commentators about Tinubu’s chances in the region.

A northern leader and scholar, Madam Madishehu, had expressed confidence that Tinubu could still secure victory in the North, while Professor Usman Yusuf had also expressed reservations about supporting the ruling party.

However, Baba-Ahmed said his interactions with residents of the region suggested widespread anger and dissatisfaction with the current administration.

“I disagree entirely with Professor Madishehu’s understanding. I think that Northerners, as well as Southerners, are fed up,” he said.

He argued that the situation in Northern Nigeria had deteriorated significantly, particularly in the areas of agriculture, personal security and the ability of citizens to earn a decent living.

According to him, persistent insecurity has disrupted farming and livelihoods in several communities, leaving residents vulnerable to criminal groups and armed bandits.

“There are three things that are central to the northern economy: agriculture, the right of the citizens to just go out and earn a decent living, and his ability to live his life without being pushed to extremes. All of them have been taken away from him,” Baba-Ahmed said.

He alleged that farmers in some parts of the region could no longer access their farms without negotiating with bandits.

“Northerners feel as if they are being treated as second-class citizens,” he added.

Baba-Ahmed dismissed the suggestion that financial inducements during election campaigns would necessarily translate into votes for the ruling party.

He recalled the role played by ordinary citizens in supporting former President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaigns, saying many Nigerians contributed small amounts to finance his political ambitions.

He argued that voters could accept money distributed during campaigns without necessarily voting for the party offering it.

“They will collect money simply because they believe it’s their money. If we have a free and fair election, they will collect that money, like they did in 2015, and still vote you out,” he said.

The PRP chairman maintained that economic hardship and insecurity could influence voters’ decisions in 2027, although the eventual outcome would depend on the electoral process and voters’ choices.

He urged the government to ensure that the elections were transparent and credible.

“Don’t mess up with the credibility of the 2027 elections,” Baba-Ahmed warned.

He expressed concern that a disputed result could undermine public confidence in democratic institutions and intensify political tensions.

“I am terrified of what will happen if 40, 45 million Nigerians come out to vote, and they vote out APC, and they are told APC is back and has won,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed also called on the international community to monitor developments in Nigeria closely, while acknowledging that Nigerians did not want external interference in the country’s internal affairs.

He said protecting democratic institutions and maintaining national stability should be priorities for political leaders ahead of the elections.

The PRP chairman also criticised Tinubu’s reported decision not to embark on extensive nationwide campaign tours, arguing that the President should engage directly with Nigerians to explain his administration’s record.

He said the President should be willing to visit communities across the country, hold town hall meetings and allow citizens to question his policies.

According to Baba-Ahmed, the President’s decision to rely on party officials to campaign on his behalf would limit opportunities for direct engagement with voters.

“To be honest, I wasn’t surprised. That’s Tinubu,” he said.

He questioned what the President would tell Nigerians if he visited communities experiencing persistent insecurity, electricity challenges and economic hardship.

Baba-Ahmed argued that the President should use campaign engagements to explain his administration’s achievements and outline how it intended to address the country’s problems.

He also suggested that concerns about security and the increasingly hostile atmosphere surrounding political gatherings could affect campaign activities.

However, he maintained that these challenges should not prevent the President from engaging directly with citizens.

“Take one place in a zone. I will visit one. I will do one rally in a zone. And when I go there, apart from filling up stadium with paid-up cheerleaders, arrange a town hall meeting where people can talk to me and I can talk to them,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed further questioned why Nigerians should support another four-year term for Tinubu if the administration could not demonstrate how its economic reforms would improve their living conditions.

“If he goes out to people, he is hiding from his record. Basically, this is what he is doing. He is hiding from his record. That’s why he can’t campaign,” he alleged.

The comments came amid preparations for the 2027 general elections and renewed debate over the performance of the Tinubu administration.

Baba-Ahmed also challenged the APC to publish a detailed policy document outlining what it intended to achieve if re-elected for another four-year term.

He questioned whether the ruling party had developed specific proposals to address poverty, insecurity, education and the state of public institutions.

According to him, Nigerians deserved a clear explanation of how the administration intended to improve conditions beyond continuing its existing policies.

“Let them publish two pages of what an APC government from 2027 to 2031 would do, different from what they are doing now,” he said.

He argued that addressing the country’s challenges would require investment in education, rural infrastructure, security institutions and economic opportunities.

The PRP chairman also called for greater investment in the education of children attending traditional Quranic schools in Northern Nigeria, arguing that they should have access to both religious instruction and basic Western education.

He said the government could improve educational outcomes by investing public funds in the institutions while ensuring children acquired essential skills.

Baba-Ahmed maintained that the opposition coalition was examining Nigeria’s recent political and economic history to develop practical solutions to the country’s challenges.

He said such efforts should focus on rebuilding institutions, improving governance and restoring public confidence.

Baba-Ahmed also questioned whether Tinubu would participate in presidential debates or media interviews that would allow Nigerians to assess his policies and leadership record ahead of the 2027 elections.

He recalled participating in a presidential candidates’ forum in Abuja before the 2023 elections, where candidates were invited to present their programmes and answer questions from a panel.

Baba-Ahmed said he represented the Northern Elders Forum at the event and claimed that Tinubu’s performance during the session was unsatisfactory.

“He did very badly there. He was barely coherent,” Baba-Ahmed said, referring to Tinubu’s performance at the forum.

He expressed doubt that the President would willingly participate in a similar event ahead of the next general elections.

The PRP chairman argued that candidates should be prepared to explain their policies and answer questions from Nigerians rather than rely exclusively on campaign rallies and statements from party officials.

He also criticised what he described as the absence of clear proposals from the APC on how it intended to tackle the country’s economic and security challenges during a possible second term.

Reacting to the inauguration of the APC presidential campaign council, Baba-Ahmed described the event as “theatre”, arguing that the ruling party had yet to present a convincing case for another term in office.

“Yeah, it was theatre. It was theatre. They think this is what campaigns are,” he said.

He argued that deteriorating security conditions and public dissatisfaction could make it more difficult for political parties to organise large rallies in some parts of the country.

According to him, the political atmosphere has changed considerably since previous election cycles, with citizens increasingly demanding answers from political leaders.

Baba-Ahmed also suggested that the APC could face difficulties mobilising supporters for large gatherings if it could not demonstrate tangible achievements.

He alleged that the party might instead focus on the electoral process rather than rely on extensive public campaigns.

However, his remarks represent the opposition leader’s assessment of the political situation, and the APC’s electoral prospects will ultimately depend on voters, campaign developments and the credibility of the elections.

Despite his criticism of the administration, Baba-Ahmed said the opposition coalition would accept the outcome of the 2027 elections if the process was transparent and credible.

He said the coalition would continue to operate in opposition if Tinubu secured an honest victory.

“If Tinubu wins transparently and honestly, we’ll live with it, and we will work again in opposition,” he said.

He added that the opposition’s objective should be to protect citizens, preserve national unity and strengthen democratic institutions.

Baba-Ahmed, however, insisted that the government must not interfere with the electorate’s mandate.