2027: Coming from North does not guarantee northern votes – Hakeem Baba-Ahmed

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former aide to President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday warned presidential candidates that coming from the North does not automatically mean them getting votes from the region in 2027.

Baba-Ahmed spoke on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday.

He said, “Most northerners have moved away from the idea that just coming from the North is enough to get our votes. From the southern part of the country there are a good number that have learnt their lessons from simply voting for a candidate.

“If coming from the southern part of the country is an advantage, why does it have to be a Yoruba man being President for four years, why not pick Edo man or somebody from the South-East?”

The former presidential aide noted that Nigerians would not vote based on regional sentiment but their sufferings.

“I don’t think Nigerians would vote purely on regional terms, I think Nigerians will look at how we are being killed everyday on the street, how poverty has eaten deep, they might vote for good candidates like the ones we are fielding and then we can make a change.

“I think we are over rating this idea that coming from one part of the country qualifies you or puts you at a disadvantage of winning an election,” Baba-Ahmed added.