Laolu Akande, former presidential aide, has urged Nigerians to reject recycled political figures ahead of the 2027 general election, calling instead for a shift toward policy-driven leadership and fresh candidates.
Appearing on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Thursday, Akande said the country needs “new faces” who can offer real reforms, rather than the return of old political actors.
“We need new faces, but they still have old folks,” he said.
He expressed concern over the disorganised state of opposition politics, noting that while the All Progressives Congress (APC) has its challenges, it remains better structured to retain power.
“The characters at the forefront are not the ones that can get the job done. Nigerians would not be inspired by the same old personal vendetta politics,” he added.
Akande’s remarks came in response to recent comments by Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 vice-presidential candidate, who suggested that his principal, Peter Obi, could contest the 2027 election without him.
Akande said the statement reflects internal disarray within the LP.
“If the coalition is serious, Datti should be at the forefront to assure Nigerians of real change,” he said.
He criticised opposition parties for lacking a coherent manifesto and leadership identity.
His words: “I think APC has better arrangements. While the APC has issues, the opposition appears disorganised and without a clear political identity.”
According to Akande, the opposition seems more focused on unseating President Bola Tinubu than on providing credible alternatives.
“The opposition has allowed a dominant narrative to thrive—one that appears fixated on removing President Bola Tinubu without presenting viable policy alternatives,” he said.
Akande called for more civic engagement and urged political leaders to prioritise issues such as poverty alleviation, anti-corruption reforms, and institutional strengthening.
