Veteran Columnist Hakeem Baba-Ahmed Resigns to Lead Peoples Redemption Party Toward 2027 General Elections Challenge

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed retires from column writing to lead the Peoples Redemption Party. Read his final critique on Nigerian governance and the vision for 2027.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 3:50 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from NewsDiary Online

A Decades Long Editorial Journey Reaches Its Zenith

The landscape of Nigerian political commentary witnessed a significant shift as veteran columnist Hakeem Baba-Ahmed announced his permanent retirement from his regular newspaper contributions. Reflecting on a career defined by independence and political scrutiny, Baba-Ahmed expressed profound gratitude to the publishers and readers who engaged with his work over several years. He noted that the relationship between a columnist and their platform is built on a mutual respect for personal opinion and ideological leanings, a privilege he has exercised through various national engagements. This farewell marks the transition of a public intellectual from the role of a societal observer to a direct participant in the nation’s high stakes political leadership.

Resurrecting the Legacy of the Peoples Redemption Party

The catalyst for this departure is Baba-Ahmed’s recent election as the National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), an organization boasting a 70 year history as Nigeria's longest surviving political entity. Founded on the principles of Mallam Aminu Kano, the party maintains a core ideology centered on the emancipation of the poor from the perceived greed of the wealthy elite. According to Baba-Ahmed, the PRP remains distinct from the contemporary Nigerian political landscape because it is driven by principles rather than stolen wealth or the mere pursuit of office. This ideological rigidity is framed as a necessary alternative for a democratic experiment that the author describes as currently broken and in need of fundamental repair.

Mobilizing the Youth Against Traditional Political Machineries

In a departure from the typical demographic of established political parties, the PRP leadership claims to oversee the largest proportion of young members in Nigeria. Baba-Ahmed asserts that the party’s strategy involves empowering these young professionals and citizens to stand for elective office based on character rather than deploying them for electoral violence or rigging. According to the new Chairman, the party’s recent convention saw a diverse assembly of delegates from across the federation, including Rivers, Lagos, and Borno. This geographical spread is intended to counter the narrative that the PRP is a regional entity, positioning it instead as a national platform for those alienate...