Donald Duke Compares Pro-Tinubu Parties to Abacha's Allies

Donald Duke, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party and former governor of Cross River State, criticized opposition parties supporting President Bola Tinubu's 2027 re-election bid during an interview on ARISE News. He likened these parties to the "five leprous fingers" associated with Sani Abacha's transition programme in the 1990s.

Duke referenced the phrase coined by Bola Ige, which condemned the five parties that supported Abacha as an attempt to prolong military rule under civilian guise. Duke's comments come amid political realignments as opposition figures are divided over strategies to challenge Tinubu's re-election.

APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda confirmed that the ruling party has approached various opposition figures, including Nyesom Wike, Ademola Adeleke, and Chukwuma Soludo, for support. Both Adeleke and Soludo agreed to work for Tinubu's re-election, while Wike pledged to deliver votes in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory, despite his affiliation with the PDP.