The opposition in Nigeria is not as weak as some observers believe, according to the National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who has pushed back against claims that opposition parties have become largely inactive ahead of the 2027 general election.
Baba-Ahmed instead argued that opposition parties are operating under intense pressure from the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), despite the ruling party’s considerable political and financial advantage.
The former Political Adviser to President Bola Tinubu made the argument while responding to an X user who questioned the state of Nigerian politics and described the opposition as “largely lacklustre.”
Competing Views
The X user, @Abdulrah_maan, said he had become increasingly disconnected from Nigerian politics because major political developments were taking place without generating much interest.
According to the user, politics should be engaging, but the activities of political actors had failed to generate the excitement expected from major political events.
The user also expressed concern about the state of the opposition, describing it as largely lacklustre.
Baba-Ahmed disagreed with that assessment, arguing that the apparent weakness of the opposition should instead be viewed against what he described as pressure from the governing party.
Baba-Ahmed’s Response
The PRP chairman said the opposition was facing what he described as “the most crippling assault from the governing party in the history of democracy in Nigeria.”
He argued that the political strength of the APC had not necessarily translated into confidence ahead of the 2027 elections.
Baba-Ahmed said:
“Opposition is not lacklustre. It is undergoing the most crippling assault from the governing party in the history of democracy in Nigeria.
“APC has all the money in the world and 90% of elected politicians on its side. Yet it cannot sleep for fear of rejection in credible elections.”
His comments therefore shifted the debate from whether the opposition is sufficiently active to whether the governing party’s dominance guarantees electoral success.
Who Is Hakeem Baba-Ahmed?
Baba-Ahmed is the National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party and previously served as a Political Adviser to President Bola Tinubu.
His intervention comes as political parties and their supporters continue to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general election.
The remarks also place particular emphasis on the strength of the opposition and the role that credible elections could play in determining the outcome of the contest.
Political Implications
Baba-Ahmed’s response highlights one of the central arguments likely to feature in the political debate ahead of 2027: whether the numerical and political advantages enjoyed by the governing party will necessarily determine the outcome of the election.
His claim that the APC has most elected politicians and substantial financial resources presents one side of that argument, while his reference to possible rejection in credible elections points to the importance he places on the electoral process itself.
The exchange also shows how assessments of opposition strength are increasingly becoming part of the wider political contest. For opposition figures, portraying the movement as active despite pressure from the ruling party can be important to how voters perceive the approaching election.
Looking Ahead To 2027
With the 2027 general election approaching, arguments over the strength of the APC and the effectiveness of opposition parties are likely to remain prominent in Nigeria’s political discourse.
Baba-Ahmed’s intervention has added another dimension to that debate, rejecting the suggestion that the opposition’s current position should simply be interpreted as political weakness.
Ultimately, the significance of the competing claims will depend on how the political parties organize themselves and how voters respond when the country goes to the polls.
