Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Ahmed, has drawn national attention to Nigeria’s long-standing political cycle, stating that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was already contesting for elective office when he was serving as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Datti made the remark during an interview on Channels Television on Friday, January 9, 2026, using his NYSC experience to illustrate what he described as the persistence of the same political actors in Nigeria’s leadership space for decades.
According to him, the comment was not a personal attack but a reflection on the country’s political history and its implications for the future.
He explained that his political path has repeatedly intersected with Atiku’s, noting that both men contested party primaries together in 2018 and later emerged on opposing tickets during the 2023 general election.
Moreover, Datti pointed out that the pattern appears likely to resurface ahead of the 2027 elections, a development he argued reinforces the need for deliberate generational renewal in Nigeria’s politics.
He said the continued dominance of long-established figures has limited opportunities for emerging leaders with fresh ideas.
“There is a whole new generation of Nigerians waiting for leadership that reflects their aspirations,” Datti said.
He added that many competent citizens are prepared to address Nigeria’s challenges but are held back by what he described as an expensive and treacherous political system dominated by godfathers and unfulfilled promises.
Furthermore, he stressed that Nigeria’s problems are not rooted in a shortage of capable individuals but in the structure of the political environment, which discourages integrity-driven participation.
According to him, many qualified Nigerians remain on the sidelines, searching for a credible leader and platform that can galvanise them into action.
Hence, Datti called for the emergence of leadership that can unite a new generation around a reformed political movement, one focused on solutions rather than recycled ambitions.
He maintained that such leadership would restore confidence and offer a practical pathway to addressing the country’s governance, economic and security challenges.
In conclusion, Datti reiterated that Nigeria stands at a crossroads, insisting that meaningful progress will depend on breaking away from entrenched political cycles and embracing a new generation of leaders ready to chart a different course for the nation.