In a recent interview on one of Nigeria's most popular news channel, Baba-Ahmed called upon President Muhammadu Buhari and Chief Justice of Nigeria not to swear in Tinubu because he had been declared as the president-elect by INEC.

He argued that it was against the constitution to declare Tinubu a winner and issue him a certificate of return.

Soyinka objected to it because he considers the language ‘alienating’ and akin to fascistic speech.

He said, “The interviewer asked him what would you do if the interpretation of the supreme court judgment goes against you, and he kept saying: no, it is not even open to analysis. This is trying to dictate to the supreme arbiter of the nation.

The supreme court is an institution we should all refer to sooner or later, if not today, but tomorrow, if not this election, the next; but Datti kept saying, no, the supreme court has got, in its wisdom, to agree with me: that is what is known as fascistic language; it is not acceptable.

And for me, it alienates people, it alienates even supporters. This is intimidation, and it is unacceptable, and I refuse to be part of that kind of language.”