Datti Baba-Ahmed: Atiku May Win Votes but Still Not Be Declared Winner

Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed has raised concerns about the ability of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to secure an electoral victory and be officially declared the winner. Speaking on Trust TV, Baba-Ahmed alleged that a candidate could win the votes but still lose out at the point of declaration if the electoral process is not properly protected. “Atiku does not have who to declare him winner. You can win the vote, but they won’t declare you. They will go and fish out the next Mahmoud, and maybe at 3:30 a.m. they will go and declare who they want,” he said. Baba-Ahmed was referring to concerns about electoral accountability and the role of institutions in determining election outcomes. He also responded to criticism that his recent public comments had distanced him from some former political allies. According to him, Nigerian society often gives too much attention to less important issues while overlooking deeper questions affecting governance and accountability. The former Labour Party presidential running mate further criticised the media for what he described as insufficient scrutiny of those in positions of power. He argued that individuals who openly raise difficult issues are sometimes portrayed as troublemakers. Baba-Ahmed’s remarks have renewed discussion around electoral transparency, vote protection and the credibility of election declarations in Nigeria. Source: Trust TV interview with Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.