Posted by Chinenye on Thu 04th Jun, 2026 - tori.ng
Former presidential aide Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has cautioned politicians seeking the presidency in 2027 against assuming that regional identity will automatically translate into electoral support.
(Hakeem Baba-Ahmed. Photo by TheCable)
Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former aide to President Bola Tinubu, has cautioned presidential aspirants against assuming that their northern origin alone will be enough to secure votes from the region in the 2027 general elections.
Baba-Ahmed made this point during an interview on a television programme on Thursday, stating that the majority of northerners have moved well beyond the notion that a candidate simply hailing from the North is sufficient grounds to earn their support.
He noted that a similar shift in thinking is also taking place in the southern part of the country, where many voters have learned hard lessons from casting ballots based purely on where a candidate comes from rather than what they stand for.
He further questioned the logic of regional sentiment as a basis for political support, asking why, if southern origin is considered an advantage, the benefit should be limited to a particular ethnic group such as the Yoruba rather than extending equally to candidates from Edo State or the South-East.
Baba-Ahmed argued that in 2027, Nigerians are far more likely to vote based on the realities of their daily suffering the rising insecurity claiming lives on the streets and the deepening grip of poverty rather than on regional or ethnic loyalty.
He expressed confidence that voters would gravitate towards credible and capable candidates who offer genuine solutions.
He concluded by cautioning against overrating the influence of geographical origin on electoral outcomes, insisting that where a candidate comes from should neither be seen as an automatic qualification nor an insurmountable disadvantage in the race for the presidency.