North to Decide Preferred 2027 Presidential Candidate Within Six Months – Baba-Ahmed
A Northern political leader and one-time Special Adviser on Political Affairs to Vice President Kashim Shettima, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has said that the North will decide its preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 election within the next six months.
Speaking to the evolving political landscape, Baba-Ahmed emphasized that the North will take a cautious and calculated approach in selecting a candidate who best represents the values and interests of the region.
According to him, consultations have already started among key stakeholders, and a consensus position will be arrived at before the end of the year.
“We are not in a hurry, but we are resolved to make the right choice. The North will make its choice on who to support in the 2027 elections within the next six months,” he was quoted as saying.
This is following Baba-Ahmed’s recent resignation from his advisory role in the presidency early enough in April 2025. Having reportedly cited personal reasons as the cause of his resignation, his departure has led to speculations regarding his continued involvement in the political reconfiguring of the region ahead of the upcoming general elections.
Political pundits explain that Baba-Ahmed’s credibility and influence in the North position him as a key actor in the negotiations of who is to receive the region’s endorsement. His statement is being viewed as a sign that Northern leaders intend to unite behind a single, strategically chosen candidate, perhaps with an eye to optimally impacting national politics.
The North has played a decisive role in Nigeria’s presidential elections, thanks to its huge voting population and entrenched political machinery. As 2027 approaches, the decision of who the North backs could be a determining factor in the contest and the final outcome.
The region will be closely monitored by watchers in the coming months as the political landscape heats up and coalitions begin to take more concrete shape.
