Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has officially resigned from his position.
Sources within the presidency confirm that Baba-Ahmed, who previously served as the spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), submitted his resignation approximately two weeks ago. However, it remains unclear whether the presidency has formally accepted it.
Appointed in September 2023 to serve in the office of Vice President Kashim Shettima, Baba-Ahmed was actively involved in representing the presidency at public engagements, including the National Conference on Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy, held in January 2025 in Abuja.
Baba-Ahmed’s tenure as political adviser was not without controversy. His role came under scrutiny in April 2024 when the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, criticized northern appointees for failing to vigorously defend the Tinubu administration.
Matawalle specifically called out Baba-Ahmed over his stance on the NEF after the minister dismissed the group as lacking political influence. In response, Baba-Ahmed suggested that Matawalle should focus on highlighting his ministerial achievements rather than engaging in public spats.
Matawalle, however, maintained that government appointees, including Baba-Ahmed, had an obligation to support and promote the administration’s efforts.
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, born on September 11, 1955, is a veteran public servant with extensive experience in governance and administration. A native of Kaduna State and a devout Muslim, he holds a PhD and pursued his education at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), the London School of Economics, and the University of Sussex.
He started his career as a lecturer before transitioning into the civil service, where he held key positions, including Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service. He also served as Secretary to the Kaduna State Government and Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). His contributions to governance earned him the national honor of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).
Before joining the Tinubu administration, Baba-Ahmed was the Director of Publicity and Advocacy for the Northern Elders Forum, where he actively engaged in national discourse on policies affecting the northern region and Nigeria as a whole.
