Former Cross River State Governor and presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has declared his willingness to relinquish his 2027 presidential ambition if opposition parties agree on a consensus candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu.
Duke said he would respect a collective democratic decision to support another aspirant, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar or former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, provided opposition parties first agree on a common vision and direction for the country.
He made the declaration on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, in Abuja during the unveiling of the PRP’s vice-presidential candidate, Sule Mohammed, and the party’s manifesto.
Responding to a question on whether he would step down for another candidate if opposition parties reached an agreement, Duke said the purpose of a coalition should go beyond selecting a presidential candidate or sharing political positions.
According to him, opposition parties must first agree on the kind of Nigeria they want to build before deciding who should lead the alliance.
“A coalition is not just about picking a presidential candidate. That’s the mistake we’re all making. It’s about us coming together to agree on where we would like to take our nation to,” he said.
The former governor acknowledged the prominence of Atiku and Obi in the opposition political landscape but said he did not want to prejudge the outcome of ongoing discussions.
He maintained that anyone who subscribes to a democratic coalition must be prepared to respect its decisions, even when the eventual choice is not in their personal political interest.
“If the group, and so far there are quite a number of us, comes up with an agreement that this is the best person to lead the coalition, you can’t say you’re a democrat and not be subject to the rules of democracy,” Duke said.
He added that he would expect other presidential aspirants to demonstrate the same willingness to make concessions if he emerged as the preferred candidate.
“If it’s me, I hope they would do the same. And if it’s any other person, I would do the same. I would respect it,” he stated.
Duke, however, cautioned against forming a coalition solely to remove the All Progressives Congress (APC) from power without establishing a credible alternative capable of addressing Nigeria’s challenges.
“We don’t want to replace the APC or the present administration with someone who would take us back again,” he said.
The PRP presidential candidate also raised concerns about what he described as an uneven political environment ahead of the 2027 general election, alleging that opposition parties were facing difficulties securing campaign venues and advertising spaces across the country.
He claimed that APC billboards and posters dominated public spaces in several cities, while opposition parties struggled to obtain comparable visibility.
Duke further alleged that advertising costs in some states were extremely high, claiming that parties could be required to spend as much as ₦1 billion to begin advertising campaigns.
He said the financial demands could make nationwide campaigns particularly difficult for opposition parties seeking visibility across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The former governor also disclosed that the PRP had postponed its retreat several times because of difficulties securing venues.
According to him, the party was sometimes informed that proposed dates had already been booked, forcing it to seek alternative locations.
Meanwhile, PRP National Chairman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the party was exploring options for strengthening opposition cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections but would not surrender or dissolve its political structure into another party.
Baba-Ahmed said the PRP was prepared to support opposition candidates as part of efforts to challenge the APC, while maintaining its identity and organisational independence.
He explained that supporting a common candidate did not necessarily require the PRP to abandon its political platform.
The party chairman also rejected suggestions that the PRP was participating in the 2027 presidential race merely to make up the numbers, insisting that it remained committed to negotiations and strategies aimed at strengthening the opposition.
He said the party’s discussions would focus on issues including insecurity, economic hardship, youth participation, electoral credibility and the protection of vulnerable communities.
Duke’s latest position comes amid consultations among opposition parties seeking greater cooperation ahead of the 2027 general election.
In October, representatives of six opposition parties held consultations involving presidential aspirants Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Donald Duke, Seyi Makinde and Adewole Adebayo as part of efforts to explore political cooperation and a coordinated opposition strategy.
The parties involved were the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and PRP.
However, the discussions have not produced a publicly announced consensus presidential candidate.
Duke’s declaration therefore signals his willingness to make way for an agreed opposition flagbearer, while maintaining that any coalition must be built around a shared national agenda rather than political ambition alone.
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