Former presidential adviser, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has said he faced insults and backlash after stating that Peter Obi would struggle to defeat former Vice President Atiku Abubakar if the African Democratic Congress, ADC, conducts a convention-style presidential primary.
Baba-Ahmed made the remarks on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television’s The Morning Show, where he revisited his earlier comments on the internal politics of the ADC ahead of the 2027 elections.
“I did a programme two or three days ago, where I mentioned the fact that Peter Obi would lose 100 conventions,” he said.
“You’ll be amazed at the number of people who commented and insulted me and said, ‘How do these people think Peter Obi would line up behind Atiku?’ I am afraid it is a democratic process — that’s how it’s done.”
He explained that political parties operate based on internal democratic rules, not public sentiment or online popularity, insisting that conventions are about structure, alliances and numbers.
Baba-Ahmed had earlier told Channels Television that Atiku was better positioned to secure the ADC presidential ticket if the party adopts a national convention.
“If ADC goes to convention, and it certainly will, because that’s what former Vice President Atiku wants, he will get the ticket,” he said.
According to him, Obi may find it difficult to navigate a convention involving multiple aspirants, arguing that the former Anambra State governor is not used to such competitive internal processes.
“One of the reasons Peter Obi is saying, ‘Look at me, I’m not here for number two, I’m not here for convention, I’m here to fly the flag,’ is that he has people who were initially whispering politely to him,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He added that those same supporters are now insisting on fairness within the party.
“But now they are saying, ‘Join the queue. You’re not the only one with ambition here,’” he stated.
Baba-Ahmed further claimed that Obi’s rise in politics has largely been shaped by consensus arrangements rather than open contests at party conventions.
“Peter Obi doesn’t do convention. He just goes there to be anointed,” he said.
He warned that expectations of automatic endorsement could create tension within the ADC and predicted that the party might face internal challenges if Atiku eventually emerges as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
