The National Chairman of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has stirred fresh political controversy after alleging that President Bola Tinubu personally financed his way to power during the 2023 presidential election.
Baba-Ahmed made the allegation during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, claiming that Tinubu funded his presidential campaign with his personal resources rather than relying on financial contributions from Nigerians.
According to the PRP chairman, Tinubu may have been one of the few Nigerian presidents to finance his presidential campaign largely with his own money.
“He single-handedly bought his way into power. He could quite possibly be the only president who campaigned for and paid for his campaign to become president,” Baba-Ahmed alleged.
He added that Tinubu’s famous campaign slogan, “Emi Lokan,” may have reflected his financial independence during the race for the presidency.
“Tinubu is the only president who people didn’t give billions because he had his own money. He literally bought his own way into the Villa, and he funded his campaign,” he stated.
Baba-Ahmed Questions Tinubu’s Approach to Governance
Beyond the campaign financing allegation, Baba-Ahmed criticised the President’s approach to governance, arguing that Tinubu should have taken more time to understand Nigeria’s underlying challenges before assuming office.
He suggested that a deeper understanding of the country’s economic and political circumstances would have helped the President address the problems confronting Nigerians.
Why Tinubu’s Campaign Remark Has Triggered Reactions
Baba-Ahmed’s comments also followed Tinubu’s recent declaration that Nigerians should not expect him to attend every campaign rally ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, Tinubu said he intended to concentrate on governance, stressing that the country required urgent attention and that government obligations could not be ignored.
The President explained that he had been advised not to allow the demands of political campaigning to distract him from his responsibilities.
He also cited the need to meet the country’s financial obligations, including debts owed to American creditors.
Reacting to the development, Baba-Ahmed said Nigerians were not surprised by Tinubu’s decision to skip some campaign rallies, while accusing the President of running the country aground.
His latest remarks have added another dimension to the growing political exchanges surrounding Tinubu’s administration and preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
However, Baba-Ahmed’s claim about Tinubu’s campaign financing remains an allegation attributed to him and should not be treated as an independently established fact.
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