2027 Political Twist: Baba-Ahmed Reveals Sh*cking Condition For INEC To Approve ADA

Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former political adviser to President Bola Tinubu in the Vice President’s office and a leading figure in the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has cast doubt on the likelihood of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) approving the proposed new political party backed by an opposition coalition.

Baba-Ahmed noted that INEC has not approved any new political parties in a long time, and without what he described as a “miracle,” it is improbable that the electoral body would approve the registration of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).

He made this known during an interview on Arise News on Monday, where he discussed the coalition’s bid to register ADA ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“Unless a miracle happens, they [ADA] must understand that there are numerous pending applications before INEC, and none have been approved in years,” Baba-Ahmed explained.

He further cautioned that INEC could risk accusations of bias if it prioritizes ADA’s application simply because it is backed by high-profile politicians.

“It would be problematic if INEC suddenly favors this particular application just because prominent names are involved. It could damage its credibility, and Nigerians won’t be pleased,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed acknowledged the coalition’s rationale for forming a new party rather than joining an existing one, pointing out the internal tensions and potential clashes between old and new members that such a merger could cause.

Still, he warned that the political and legal hurdles involved in creating a new political party from scratch are significant and may be difficult to overcome.

“Trying to form a new party just to give everyone equal footing—where no one feels like a guest in someone else’s structure—is a tough and complicated task,” he said.

He added that if INEC does come under pressure to register ADA, it might opt to approve multiple parties at once to avoid appearing partial—but must remain within the bounds of the law.

“INEC could choose to register 20 parties, including the one backed by these big names. But it cannot cherry-pick. Legal guidelines must be followed,” Baba-Ahmed concluded.