2027: ADC Is a Grand Deception – Datti Baba-Ahmed Blasts Ex-Buhari Allies

Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, the 2023 vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party and running mate to Peter Obi, has described the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a “grand deception,” accusing the party of becoming a refuge for politicians who misgoverned Nigeria during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

In a candid interview aired Friday night on Channels Television and monitored in Abuja, Baba-Ahmed took aim at the rebranding efforts of former Buhari allies now positioning themselves within the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, Nigeria’s persistent challenges—ranging from insecurity to institutional collapse—stem directly from a deeply flawed system of leadership recruitment driven by electoral fraud.

“Insecurity is derived from electoral fraud. Corruption is aggravated by the kind of elections we conduct. The destruction of our youth and our judiciary is guaranteed by the fraudulent electoral system we run,” he declared.

Baba-Ahmed also took a swipe at the legacy of former President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing him of having presided over one of the most corrupt governments in Nigeria’s history.

He recalled Buhari’s controversial role during the Abacha military regime, where he served as Chairman of the now-defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), and noted that the same regime remains synonymous with looted public funds.

“Everybody knows how corrupt that (Abacha) government was. Up till now, money is still being claimed by the federal government as stolen during that period,” he said.

Reflecting on Buhari’s post-military political career, Baba-Ahmed alleged that the political ecosystem surrounding him—spanning his campaigns from 2003 to 2015—was consistently fueled by campaign contributions and personal ambition, not national service.

“From 2003 to 2015, it was all about campaign contributions. Without party money, the ecosystem around him would starve… So when they got power, they were like wolves,” he added.

Addressing the migration of former Buhari-era officials to the ADC, Baba-Ahmed dismissed their political reinvention as disingenuous.

“They are deceiving us. The ADC is a deception. Those who ruined Nigeria between 2015 and 2023 cannot now come under a new platform and claim they want to fix the country,” he stated.

He reaffirmed his commitment to the Labour Party and his support for Peter Obi, making it clear he wants Obi to run again in 2027.

“I am in Labour Party, for God’s sake. I am a Peter Obi man, and I want him to contest again in 2027,” he concluded.