WorldStage– The Department of State Services (DSS) has summoned Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, founder of Baze University and former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate in 2023, over statements considered “inciteful” against the state.
The invitation follows remarks he made on national television, reportedly blaming the judiciary and military for facilitating the 2023 inauguration of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, which he described as illegitimate.
Baba-Ahmed allegedly accused the military of disrespecting citizens, calling them “bloody fools,” a comment seen as inflammatory amid Nigeria’s highly polarized political environment.
The summons comes after a viral video circulating on November 28, in which he warned that the Tinubu-Shettima administration was “skating on thin ice” and reiterated his attempts to prevent its inauguration.
These statements reflect his longstanding contestation of the 2023 election results.
The DSS confirmed the invitation for questioning but emphasized it is not an arrest.
The agency cited concerns that sustained rhetoric of this nature could undermine national stability.
Public reaction on X (formerly Twitter) has been swift, with prominent accounts sharing the story and users expressing both admiration for his boldness and concern over potential government crackdowns on dissent.
Similar calls for DSS action against Baba-Ahmed were made in 2023 by APC figures such as Festus Keyamo, though no formal summons followed.
Baba-Ahmed has consistently challenged the legitimacy of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), framing his critiques around governance failures and electoral integrity.
With no official response yet from him or the Labour Party, the development is likely to reignite debates over the tension between free speech and national security in Nigeria’s fragile democracy.
