Donald Duke Signals Readiness to Rally Behind Opposition Consensus Candidate
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has pledged to support whoever emerges as the consensus presidential candidate of the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Duke made the commitment on Tuesday in Abuja during the PRP strategic retreat, where he also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly deploying state institutions to weaken opposition parties and frustrate their political activities.
The former Cross River State governor said opposition aspirants must be prepared to respect collective decisions, stressing that the coalition’s priority should extend beyond selecting a presidential candidate to developing a shared vision for Nigeria.
He alleged that opposition parties were being denied access to campaign venues while political violence continued to undermine democratic participation.
“Indeed, right now in this country, the only party able to campaign is the APC. They’ve locked out every person,” Duke said.
He warned that the prevailing political atmosphere could precipitate a national crisis, drawing comparisons with events preceding the 1966 political upheaval and the Nigerian Civil War.
Duke also expressed optimism that the 375 judges recently inaugurated to handle election-related cases would uphold judicial independence and administer justice without fear or favour.
Similarly, PRP National Chairman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, cautioned that Nigeria’s survival beyond the 2027 general elections could be threatened if political violence and intimidation against opposition parties were not urgently addressed.
Baba-Ahmed said attacks on opposition politicians and restrictions on campaign activities could undermine the credibility of the electoral process, deprive Nigerians of their democratic rights and worsen political instability.
“We are not scared for the PRP, we are scared for the country,” he said, expressing concern over the possibility of violence being used to discourage political participation.
He alleged that those responsible for the violence were seeking to create an atmosphere of fear that could prevent opposition parties from campaigning and discourage eligible voters from participating in the elections.
On the opposition coalition, Baba-Ahmed said the PRP remained open to supporting a single presidential candidate but ruled out merging party structures, noting that the legal window for such arrangements had closed.
He, however, disclosed that opposition parties were exploring alternative strategies to strengthen their cooperation and challenge the APC in 2027.
The retreat also provided an opportunity for party stakeholders to assess the PRP’s nationwide performance, review its electoral prospects and discuss challenges confronting the party.
Participants expressed satisfaction with the party’s progress, particularly its candidates for various elective positions, while deliberations also focused on opposition unity and concerns over alleged attempts by the ruling party to suppress political competition.
Among those in attendance were the PRP Board of Trustees Chairman, Malam Falalu Bello; Senator Samaila Dahuwa Kaila, representing Bauchi North; several governorship candidates and members of the party’s National Executive Committee.
