Bashir Ahmad rejects oppressors vs oppressed 2027 election frame, urges policy-focused debate
Bashir Ahmad, National Director of Media Monitoring for City Boys Movement and former presidential aide, disagreed with NDC vice-presidential candidate Rabi'u Kwankwaso over criticism of APC's 2027 Presidential Campaign Council. In a Sunday X post, Ahmad said while scrutinizing government is fair, reducing the 2027 election to a simplistic battle between oppressors and oppressors hinders serious national debate. He argued the council should be judged by its policies, programs and vision, not just members' political identities.
Ahmad specifically defended former Zamfara governor Abdul'aziz Yari's appointment to head the APC council, stating Yari's experience as a governor and senior politician should be seen as an asset to the political process rather than automatic evidence of complicity in national challenges. He emphasized that the 2027 election should be a contest of ideas, records, competence and competing visions for Nigeria's future.
The exchange highlights competing frameworks for evaluating the 2027 election: Kwankwaso's moral struggle narrative versus Ahmad's call for voters to examine government records, compare alternatives and decide based on performance. Ahmad urged Nigerians to reject inflammatory labels and make informed choices based on substantive policy comparison rather than identity politics.
Will you evaluate the 2027 election based on candidates' policies and track records, or do you find the oppressed vs oppressor framework more helpful for understanding Nigeria's political challenges?