Former Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, HakeemBaba-Ahmed, has said that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is far betterpositioned than former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, to emerge as thepresidential candidate of the African Democratic Party through a partyconvention. Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday,Baba-Ahmed explained that recent comments attributed to Dr Umar Ardo, Convenerof the Northern League of Patriots and Democratic Leaders, were not meant tosuggest that Obi should not contest the presidency, but rather to highlight thechallenges he may face within the conventional party nomination process. According to him, Obi is likely to lose if the ticket isdecided strictly through a convention rather than by consensus or endorsement,arguing that Atiku has a clear advantage due to his experience, wider nationalspread, stronger political structures, and loyal support base. Baba-Ahmed said Atiku understands the mechanics of internalparty democracy better than other aspirants, describing him as “head andshoulders” above the rest when it comes to emerging through a convention. He said: “I think the comment that Dr Ardo made was not thatPeter Obi shouldn’t contest. The point he was making is that if you go throughthe conventional process of bringing out a candidate for a party and that is aconvention, not an anointing, not a handover or surrender of the ticket, PeterObi is likely to lose. He used the word ‘likely’ many times, and I more or lessagree with him. “Vice President Atiku is head and shoulders above all theother candidates in terms of emerging through a convention, either throughexperience or because he has wider spread, better structures, more loyalpeople, and understands the mechanics of internal party democracy better thanthe others. “I think Governor Peter Obi, as well as those around him,are not helping his case. What he really needs to do, in my view, is to go outand soil his boots. He is one of the most travelled politicians I have seen inrecent times, and that is good for him. “He tries to stay in touch with the grassroots, which isalso good, but what he needs to do now is to sit down with these people andcome to terms with the fact that he is now running against hardline politicianswho have their eyes on the same goal. “What Vice President Atiku did by telling his supporters tocalm down and avoid trading insults was the right thing. That is somethingPeter Obi should do even more.”
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