The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would lose the 2027 presidential election before 4 p.m. if the poll is conducted credibly, freely and fairly.
Baba-Ahmed made the assertion on Wednesday while appearing on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, where he also described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a “monster” that is consuming itself despite its dominance at the federal and state levels.
The PRP chairman said the outcome of the recent Osun State governorship election demonstrated that the APC could be defeated despite its control of the federal government and substantial political influence across the country.
He said the victory of Governor Ademola Adeleke showed that opposition parties did not necessarily need a coalition or coordinated alliance to defeat the ruling party.
“I saw the now sworn-in Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State speak in a very confident, very comfortable manner. APC was trounced in Osun. We didn’t even see a coalition or collaboration or a gang-up against the APC. Parties all competed against one another. Yet, APC was defeated,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He dismissed reports of an alleged political understanding between Tinubu and Adeleke, insisting that the Osun result reflected the ability of the ruling party to lose an election when voters are allowed to freely determine the outcome.
“We have even heard stories that there was a deal between President Tinubu and Governor Ademola Adeleke. But we don’t believe that. We believe that the ruling party, Accord Party, defeated APC comprehensively. There’s no reason why this cannot repeat itself at a national level,” he stated.
Baba-Ahmed launched a scathing attack on the APC, describing it as an organisation plagued by internal contradictions despite wielding enormous political power.
“APC is not a party. It is a monster eating itself up and eating everybody up,” he said.
He argued that Tinubu’s extensive political control had failed to translate into confidence about his prospects in 2027, pointing to the administration’s control of the presidency, the National Assembly and 31 state governments.
“You have a party that has a president who is quite possibly the most powerful president, who has either given himself or been given by the people around him the most awesome powers to do anything he wants,” he said.
“You have a president who believes he must have all the power around him. He appears to have garnered the support of 31 governors and quite possibly about 75 per cent of the National Assembly, yet he’s still uncomfortable. It’s politically monstrous.”
The PRP chairman was emphatic about his prediction for the 2027 presidential contest, but attached it to the condition that the election must meet the standards of credibility, freedom and fairness.
“If it’s a credible, free and fair election, I assure you, Tinubu will lose. I won’t say before 12 noon. Maybe before 4 pm,” Baba-Ahmed declared.
He also warned against prematurely commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), arguing that the ultimate test of the electoral body would be its ability to conduct a credible presidential election involving an incumbent president.
“Nobody should praise INEC until it can actually conduct an election in which the President is a contestant,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed expressed hope that the 2027 election would be conducted credibly, warning that any failure to ensure a free and fair process could pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic stability.
“I hope the election will be credible, free and fair. If it’s not, I foresee a very serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy,” he stated.
