Former presidential adviser Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has warned that Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, needs to recalibrate his political strategy if he hopes to secure the coalition-backed nomination of the African Democratic Congress.
Speaking on Thursday during an appearance on The Morning Show on Arise Television, Baba-Ahmed analysed Obi’s prospects within the opposition coalition, contrasting them with those of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. According to him, Atiku holds a decisive advantage in a convention-style primary due to his extensive experience in party politics, deep knowledge of internal democratic processes, and well-established political structures.
“Vice President Atiku is head and shoulders better than all other candidates in terms of emerging through convention,” Baba-Ahmed said. “He does this either through experience, wider spread, better structures and more loyal people. And he understands the mechanics of internal democratic politics better than others.”
While acknowledging Obi’s strong grassroots appeal and national visibility, Baba-Ahmed suggested that the former Anambra governor’s current approach may not be sufficient to navigate a coalition environment dominated by seasoned politicians. “I think Governor Peter Obi’s people and himself are not helping his case,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed praised Obi for his active engagement with citizens across Nigeria, noting that his extensive travels and efforts to stay connected with grassroots supporters are positive attributes. “I think he is the most travelled politician I’ve seen in recent times, and that’s good for him. He tries to stay in touch with the grassroots, which is good for him,” he said.
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However, he cautioned that Obi must adapt to the new political dynamics within the ADC coalition, recognising that he is now competing against experienced and strategic opponents with similar presidential ambitions. “What he needs to do now is to sit down with his people and come to terms with the fact that he’s now running against hardline politicians who also have eyes on the same thing he has his eyes on,” Baba-Ahmed explained.
The former adviser also urged Obi to emulate Atiku’s approach to managing supporters and handling internal party tensions, particularly in avoiding public disputes. “What Vice President Atiku did to his people in terms of saying calm down, we don’t want to be trading insults with each other was the right thing,” he said, adding that “Peter Obi should do twice as much.”
Baba-Ahmed’s remarks highlight the strategic challenges facing Obi as he seeks to position himself as a credible contender in a coalition-driven political landscape, where experience, organisation, and internal negotiation often outweigh public popularity.
