Nigeria News
After months of criticism, Baba-Ahmed resigns as Tinubu’s Political Adviser

Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Office of the Vice President, has formally tendered his resignation.
Presidency sources confirmed to Daily Trust that Baba-Ahmed submitted his letter of resignation approximately two weeks ago. However, it is yet unclear whether the presidency has officially accepted his exit from office.
Dr. Baba-Ahmed, a former spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), was appointed in September 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to support Vice President Kashim Shettima on political matters. During his tenure, he represented the presidency at several national events, including the January 2025 national conference on democracy and governance in Abuja.
Baba-Ahmed’s stint in government was not without controversy. In April 2024, he came under fire from Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, who accused northern appointees of failing to defend the Tinubu administration against criticism.
Tensions between the two escalated after Baba-Ahmed responded to Matawalle’s dismissal of the Northern Elders Forum as a “political paperweight.” Baba-Ahmed urged the minister to focus on delivering on his portfolio rather than attacking the NEF.
In a sharp rebuttal, Matawalle insisted that presidential appointees, including Baba-Ahmed, had a duty to defend and promote the administration’s achievements.
“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,” Matawalle stated.
Born on September 11, 1955, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed is a respected figure in Nigeria’s civil service and political landscape. A native of Kaduna State, he holds a PhD and is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the London School of Economics, and the University of Sussex.
He began his career as a lecturer before transitioning to public service, where he held several high-ranking positions, including Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service, Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, and Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In recognition of his service, he was conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).
Before joining the Tinubu administration, Baba-Ahmed served as the Director of Publicity and Advocacy for the Northern Elders Forum, where he was widely known for his articulate positions on national issues, especially those affecting Northern Nigeria.
As of press time, there has been no official statement from the presidency regarding his resignation.