Donald Duke Advocates Two-Party System for Nigeria's Elections

Donald Duke, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and former governor of Cross River State, has called for the establishment of two dominant political blocs in Nigeria to improve the effectiveness of the presidential system. In an interview, Duke argued that a fragmented opposition could provide an electoral advantage to incumbents.

He suggested that the current constitutional framework allows a candidate to win without a majority of votes, citing the 2023 presidential election where a candidate could secure victory with only 36-37 percent of the votes. Duke warned that if opposition parties remain divided, similar outcomes could occur in the 2027 general election, potentially allowing a candidate to win with as little as 25 percent of the votes.

He emphasized the need for a better understanding of the differences between presidential and parliamentary systems, advocating for a political structure that supports two major parties to effectively challenge incumbents.