As the 2027 general elections draw closer, a stern warning has been issued by Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former political adviser to the Vice President, who asserted that anything less than a transparent electoral process could plunge Nigeria into unprecedented turmoil. His caution comes amidst intensifying discussions regarding the integrity of future polls and recent high-profile political meetings.
Dr. Baba-Ahmed, taking to his verified X account yesterday, emphasized the urgent need for Nigeria’s political leadership and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address the escalating concerns about election credibility. “Voices are being raised regarding the integrity of the 2027 elections. Our leaders and INEC should listen. Anything short of the most transparent elections will produce neither winners nor losers. Rigging will risk plunging this country into its worst crises. No one wants that,” he wrote.
His remarks resonate with a growing sentiment for electoral reform, especially with the House of Representatives’ proposal to conduct all five elections – presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives, governorship, and House of Assembly polls – on a single day. If upheld, this amendment to the Electoral Act would grant INEC the authority for such a synchronized exercise.
Meanwhile, the recent meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Rabiu Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has stirred considerable discussion. However, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Print Media, dismissed any insinuation of impropriety.
Speaking on Channels Television’s “The Morning Brief” program on Monday, Abdulaziz stated, “Politicians talk; it’s not a sin talking across lines.”
He further elaborated, “So, the presidency or friends of the president talking to Kwankwaso or the other way round should not be seen as anything strange or looked at with disdain or suspicion. After all, it’s politics and people align, re-align and shape their political positions.”
Abdulaziz highlighted the longstanding relationship between Kwankwaso and Tinubu, spanning over three decades as both senators and governors, asserting that their recent encounter should not fuel suspicion.
