The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Donald Duke, has warned that the leading opposition figures, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, could suffer defeat in the 2027 presidential election if they fail to unite.
Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, said the continued division of opposition forces could work in favour of President Bola Tinubu and the ruling party.
He made the remarks on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Wednesday while assessing the prospects of opposition candidates ahead of the 2027 election.
According to him, the decision by major opposition figures to pursue separate presidential ambitions could reproduce the pattern witnessed during the 2023 election, when votes were divided among Atiku, Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Duke argued that the opposition would find it difficult to defeat the ruling party if the major contenders failed to establish a common platform.
He attributed the challenge of achieving such unity partly to what he described as the “large egos” of the leading political figures.
“We don’t understand what we’re doing,” Duke said, stressing that political fragmentation could allow the ruling party to remain in power.
He pointed to the United States as an example, noting that the country’s political system is dominated by two major parties.
“If you fragmented the Democrats, for instance, into two or three other parties, the Republicans will remain in office forever. That’s what we’re doing,” he said.
Reflecting on the 2023 presidential election, Duke said the opposition was divided among several candidates, allowing President Tinubu to emerge victorious.
“In 2023, we fragmented, and all the major opposition came from PDP. You had Vice President Atiku from the PDP. You had Peter, Labour at the time, and you had Kwankwaso. They fragmented,” he stated.
Duke also claimed that some of the leading opposition candidates appeared overly confident about their chances of winning the next election.
“These guys, the big ones you’re talking about, they’re preparing for inauguration. They think they’re going to win. I have news for them. They’re not going anywhere,” he said.
He further warned that the opposition could face an unexpected outcome in 2027 if the current political divisions persist.
“If I look at a crystal ball, what I see in that crystal ball is not them. I see another horror coming up,” Duke added.
When asked whether his prediction amounted to an expectation that President Tinubu would secure another term in office, Duke responded in the affirmative.
“Absolutely,” he said.
