Atiku Started Contesting When I Was Doing NYSC – Baba-Ahmed

Former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, has said thar former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been contesting for political office since his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) days, stressing that Nigeria now urgently needed a new generation of leaders.

Baba-Ahmed made the remarks on Friday during an interview on Channels Television, where he questioned the continued dominance of long-standing political figures in Nigeria’s electoral space.

“When I was doing my NYSC, Atiku was already an aspirant,” he said.

“In 2018, we contested primaries together. In 2023, we contested again — I was a vice-presidential candidate elsewhere when his vice president had left him. And for God’s sake, in 2027 again?”

He argued that the repeated appearance of the same candidates in successive elections highlights the need for leadership renewal and fresh ideas in the country’s governance.

“There is a need for a new generation of Nigerian leaders, and they do exist,” Baba-Ahmed said.

“A whole new generation is waiting for a new leader to lead them, possibly to a new political party.”

The former lawmaker said Nigeria was not lacking in competent individuals capable of solving its problems but noted that many were discouraged by the nature of the political system.

“There are good Nigerians. There are people capable of solving Nigerian problems,” he said.

“But they are discouraged by an expensive, difficult and treacherous system, full of godfathers and broken promises.”

Baba-Ahmed added that high campaign costs, entrenched interests and political godfatherism continued to shut out young and reform-minded aspirants from meaningful participation.

His comments came as political conversations ahead of the 2027 general elections begin to intensified.