Ex-PRP Chieftain Tackles Baba-Ahmed Over Party Leadership, Tinubu Criticism

Former National Vice Chairman (South West) of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Comrade Olajide Wolimoh, has criticised the party’s National Chairman, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, over his leadership of the party and recent criticism of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Wolimoh, who recently resigned from the PRP and emerged as Convener of the Progressive Redemption Alliance (PRA), accused Baba-Ahmed of inconsistency in his political positions and questioned the basis of his criticism of the Federal Government ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He spoke while reacting to comments made by Baba-Ahmed during an interview with DITV/Alheri Radio in Kaduna, where the PRP chairman expressed confidence that Nigerians would vote the All Progressives Congress (APC) out of power in 2027 if the election was free and fair.

Baba-Ahmed had also urged the ruling party to concentrate on addressing the concerns of Nigerians rather than focusing excessively on opposition parties.

Wolimoh, however, faulted the position, recalling Baba-Ahmed’s role as spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum ahead of the 2023 elections, when he advocated Northern political succession after former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years in office.

According to him, the position was inconsistent with the principle of national power rotation and raised questions about Baba-Ahmed’s current political stance.

He also recalled that Baba-Ahmed resigned as Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Office of the Vice President under the Tinubu administration, alleging that the PRP chairman had complained about difficulties in accessing the President to raise concerns over developments within government.

“He alleged that things were not going right within the government. Yet, as National Chairman of the PRP, he has exhibited the same high-handedness and inaccessibility he once complained about,” Wolimoh alleged.

The former PRP chieftain further alleged that members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), including state chairmen, had difficulties reaching Baba-Ahmed over party affairs.

“I can assure you that he does not have the contacts of over 90 per cent of the state chairmen. He hardly picks calls or replies to messages. He lacks political bonding and grassroots concern,” he alleged.

Wolimoh accused the PRP chairman of becoming disconnected from ordinary party members, stressing that political leaders must remain accessible and responsive to concerns from the grassroots.

He also questioned reports that Baba-Ahmed was seeking to influence the choice of running mate to the party’s presidential candidate, Donald Duke, allegedly in favour of his younger brother, Datti Baba-Ahmed, a former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate.

Wolimoh described the alleged move as an attempt to personalise the party around family interests and called for greater respect for internal democracy.
He further questioned whether the current PRP leadership remained committed to the ideals upon which the party was founded by the late Malam Aminu Kano in 1978.

According to him, the PRP was established to champion the interests of workers, peasants and economically disadvantaged Nigerians through principles of social justice, equality and protection of vulnerable citizens.

“The present leadership has become disconnected from the very people the party was created to serve,” he said.
Wolimoh challenged Baba-Ahmed to identify concrete programmes or initiatives he had championed to address poverty, unemployment and the plight of out-of-school children, arguing that concern for the masses should go beyond political rhetoric.

He said his resignation from the PRP and emergence as Convener of the PRA were driven by his desire to promote grassroots-oriented and progressive politics.

Wolimoh said the PRA was already building structures across several states and expressed optimism that collaboration with progressive political blocs could strengthen the chances of the APC in the 2027 elections.

He urged Nigerians to scrutinise the records, policies and motivations of political actors ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that genuine commitment to the welfare of ordinary citizens should be measured by tangible impact rather than political statements.