Donald Duke Calls for Opposition Unity to Challenge Tinubu in 2027

Donald Duke, the Peoples Redemption Party's presidential candidate and former Cross River State governor, has urged opposition parties to unite behind a single platform ahead of the 2027 general election. Speaking on Monday during television appearances and at the G100 Summit of opposition political parties in Abuja, Duke warned that failure to consolidate support across competing opposition factions would effectively guarantee President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election.

Duke assessed that Tinubu's political position has weakened significantly since winning the 2023 presidential election. He attributed this decline to the widespread economic hardship afflicting Nigerians under the current administration, which he said has cost the president much of the public goodwill he previously commanded.

Despite these vulnerabilities, Duke stressed that a fractured opposition would be unable to capitalize on Tinubu's declining popularity. At the opposition summit on Monday, Duke pledged to support whichever candidate emerges from ongoing negotiations to forge a united opposition alliance.

This commitment signals his willingness to step aside if a consensus candidate is selected through inter-party negotiations, though such an outcome would require the major opposition parties represented at the summit to reach agreement on a single flag-bearer. Duke's remarks reflect broader discussions within Nigeria's opposition about the structural advantage the ruling All Progressives Congress holds through incumbency.

The PRP candidate drew a parallel to his own experience as Cross River State governor, underscoring the difficulty of dislodging an incumbent administration. His call for unity appears aimed at creating pressure on larger opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party, to finalize their 2027 strategy.