Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s Vice Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general election, has offered a sharp analysis of the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections, asserting that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is capable of defeating former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). More crucially, he contended that the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition requires an “unpredictable” candidate to stand a real chance against the incumbent administration.

Baba-Ahmed made these pronouncements during a recent appearance on Trust TV, aired on Thursday, July 3, 2025, where he discussed the ADC’s emergence as a rallying point for a broad opposition coalition. While indicating he is “considering the coalition,” he clarified that he has not yet officially left the Labour Party.

According to Baba-Ahmed, for the opposition to succeed in dislodging President Bola Tinubu and the APC, a conventional approach will not suffice. He emphasized the need for a truly disruptive figure, stating, “To defeat Tinubu, we must do the unthinkable.” This suggests that a candidate who defies traditional political expectations and can galvanize a broad base of voters outside established patterns might be the key to breaking the APC’s hold on power.

His analysis implies that Atiku Abubakar, a veteran politician and perennial presidential candidate, might be a more predictable opponent for the APC, potentially making him easier to defeat in the next electoral cycle. The PDP itself has been plagued by internal crises, which many analysts believe have significantly weakened its national structure and influence.

The ADC has recently taken over the movement to unify various opposition forces, including elements from the Labour Party, Social Democratic Party (SDP), and disillusioned members of the PDP, with the stated aim of presenting a formidable challenge to the APC in 2027. Baba-Ahmed’s comments highlight the strategic considerations being weighed by stakeholders within this burgeoning coalition as they seek to identify a candidate with the unique appeal necessary to galvanize widespread support and overcome the incumbent’s advantages.