As conversations deepen over the credibility of Nigeria’s upcoming 2027 general elections, former political adviser to the Vice President, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has issued a serious warning, cautioning that any attempt to manipulate the process could throw the nation into unprecedented chaos.
Using his verified X handle on Sunday, Baba-Ahmed urged both Nigeria’s political class and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to listen to public concerns about election credibility.
“Voices are being raised regarding integrity of the 2027 elections. Our leaders and INEC should listen. Anything short of the most transparent elections will produce neither winners nor losers. Rigging will risk plunging this country into its worst crises. No one wants that,” he wrote.
His warning comes as the House of Representatives proposes an electoral reform that would see all five elections—presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives, governorship, and House of Assembly—conducted on a single day.
If implemented, the new framework would mark a major shift in the nation’s electoral process.
Meanwhile, political maneuverings ahead of 2027 have begun to intensify, especially with recent reports of a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Reacting to the development, Baba-Ahmed said such political engagements should not be over-interpreted. “So, the presidency or friends of the president talking to Kwankwaso or the other way round should not be seen as anything strange or looked at with disdain or suspicion. After all, it’s politics and people align, re-align and shape their political positions.”
He noted that the duo share a political history dating back over 30 years, spanning their days as senators and governors, making their recent interaction less surprising than many might assume.
