2027: Coalition Presidential Candidate to Be Announced Soon – Hakeem Baba-Ahmed

*PRP chairman says opposition parties making progress, identifies unity as key to challenging APC

*Says over 70-year-old PRP remains formidable party with uncommon ‘Compact with Nigerians’

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

Baba-Ahmed gave the indication during an interview anchored by Madinah Azaki on People & Business (P&B) Television, where he discussed the opposition alliance, negotiations among participating political parties and the possibility of adopting a consensus presidential candidate.

The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has indicated that the opposition coalition will soon make further pronouncements on its efforts to present a common presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Baba-Ahmed gave the indication during an interview anchored by Madinah Azaki and Ibrahim Shuaibu Gadangaya, on People & Business (P&B) Television, where he discussed the opposition alliance, negotiations among participating political parties and the possibility of adopting a consensus presidential candidate.

He said the coalition had made considerable progress in its consultations over the past two to three months, stressing that unity and cooperation among opposition parties were essential to building a formidable political alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to him, the coalition is not simply an arrangement to produce a presidential candidate but a broader understanding among opposition parties to bring together their political structures, resources, experience and influence in pursuit of common objectives.

Baba-Ahmed explained that the coalition was considering different strategies, including the possibility of presenting a single presidential candidate, but noted that the consensus option was only one of several alternatives under consideration.

“The single candidate issue is only one out of many options that we have available. And we’ve discussed each one of them in a very enlightened and very free manner,” he said.

He stressed that producing a common candidate would require the collective commitment of all participating parties, rather than the unilateral decision of any individual party.

He also observed that political and legal timelines had affected some of the options initially considered, particularly the possibility of merging the participating parties into a single political platform.

“Even the single candidate option requires effort and collaboration of the coalition parties. So, one party will not be able to take on the Tinubu administration and defeat him,” Baba-Ahmed stated.

### Coalition to unveil policy positions

Beyond the question of its presidential candidate, the PRP chairman disclosed that the coalition was working towards developing common policy positions and commitments to communicate its vision for Nigeria to the electorate.

He said the opposition wanted to demonstrate that its initiative was not merely about replacing the incumbent administration but also about offering Nigerians an alternative programme of governance.

He further disclosed that a major gathering of opposition stakeholders was being planned to unveil the coalition’s policy positions, perspectives and commitments ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to him, the proposed programme would articulate the coalition’s core values and provide direction for its political engagement with Nigerians.

### Opposition unity key to 2027 contest

Baba-Ahmed maintained that cooperation among opposition parties was necessary, noting that the APC had considerable political structures and resources that individual opposition parties might find difficult to match independently.

He therefore advocated the pooling of resources, strengthening of relationships and mutual support among opposition parties to address their political and organisational challenges.

He said the coalition would provide an opportunity for the parties to identify common ground, coordinate their activities and protect their respective interests.

Expressing satisfaction with the progress of the consultations, Baba-Ahmed said the coalition remained optimistic about its prospects.

“We have options. We are pursuing all of them. We are very happy about the state of the coalition,” he said.

“Our spirits are very high. We feel confident that we will be able, as a coalition, to defeat Tinubu’s administration,” he added.

### PRP remains formidable after over 70 years

The PRP chairman also spoke about the political strength and identity of his party, describing it as a formidable platform with a long history of political participation and an uncommon commitment to Nigerians.

He drew attention to the party’s over 70-year history, saying its longevity and ideological foundation remained important assets as the country approached another general election.

He also highlighted the party’s *Compact with Nigerians* as a distinctive feature of its political offering, presenting it as part of the PRP’s commitment to addressing the country’s challenges and providing an alternative direction for governance.

His remarks underscored the PRP’s intention to maintain its identity and relevance within the wider opposition coalition rather than lose sight of its historical political heritage.

### Presidential ambitions remain a major consideration

Meanwhile, reconciling the presidential ambitions of prominent opposition figures remains a significant issue in the coalition-building process.

Among the political figures associated with the wider opposition consultations are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

Their different political platforms and ambitions mean that any agreement on a common presidential candidate will require extensive negotiations and compromises among the participating parties.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), for instance, has maintained that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would not automatically step down for a candidate from another political party.

Similarly, the PDP faction led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki has maintained that discussions towards producing a single opposition presidential candidate remain ongoing.

Consequently, the coalition faces the dual challenge of consolidating political cooperation and reaching an acceptable arrangement on the presidential ticket that accommodates the interests of its participating parties.

Baba-Ahmed’s comments indicate that discussions remain active, with the opposition coalition pursuing different options as it works towards determining its presidential strategy for the 2027 general elections.