Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who served as the Political Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has resigned from his position.
According to information obtained by Daily Trust from sources inside the presidency, Baba-Ahmed submitted his resignation roughly two weeks ago. However, it remains uncertain whether the resignation has been formally accepted by the presidency.
Baba-Ahmed, a former spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), was appointed in September 2023 as the Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Office of Vice President Kashim Shettima. While in office, he represented the presidency at a number of events, including a national conference held in January 2025 titled “Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Pathway to Good Governance and Political Integrity.”
Tensions Surrounding His Role
His role in the administration has not been without criticism. In April 2024, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, publicly criticized Baba-Ahmed and other northern appointees for failing to adequately defend the administration amid political backlash.
The disagreement escalated after Baba-Ahmed responded to Matawalle’s dismissal of the NEF as a “political paperweight.” In return, Baba-Ahmed advised the minister to focus more on showcasing his performance in office rather than attacking the NEF.
Matawalle, however, maintained that all presidential appointees—including Baba-Ahmed—had a responsibility to promote and defend the administration.
“Every appointee of President Tinubu, including Dr. Baba-Ahmed, owes the government a duty to promote, elucidate, and advance its good works and commendable efforts across all sectors,” the minister said.
Career Background
Born on September 11, 1955, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed is a veteran public servant with decades of experience in governance. He is from Kaduna State and practices Islam.
He earned a PhD and studied at institutions such as Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, the London School of Economics, and the University of Sussex. He began his career in academia before joining the civil service, where he served in key roles, including as a Permanent Secretary.
Baba-Ahmed also served as Secretary to the Kaduna State Government and later, Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). For his contributions, he was awarded the national honor of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).
Before joining the current administration, he was the Director of Publicity and Advocacy for the NEF, where he frequently spoke on issues affecting northern Nigeria and the country at large.
