Presidential candidates Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have outlined their plans for Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general election, with both opposition figures criticising aspects of the current administration and calling for political reforms.
Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, said he entered the presidential race to address Nigeria’s worsening challenges and provide Nigerians with what he described as a new lease of life.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Duke expressed concern that the country had continued to suffer from a leadership deficit since the return to democratic rule in 1979.
He argued that successive administrations had developed political programmes but lacked the leadership vision required to transform the country.
“There has been frustration in the political system since the return to democracy. In reality, we could have done better than what we have if we had the right leadership,” Duke said.
He added that his decision to contest was driven by the need to provide the leadership required to transform Nigeria’s political and economic fortunes.
Duke also urged opposition parties to unite ahead of the 2027 election, arguing that a common candidate and coordinated strategy could give them a realistic chance of defeating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, the opposition could defeat the incumbent administration if they set aside their differences and agree on the candidate best positioned to lead a united front.
He warned that failure to unite could make it easier for the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to retain power in 2027.
On economic policies, Duke defended the idea of subsidising petroleum products, arguing that the government should not withdraw support and subsequently expose citizens to international market prices.
He also backed the establishment of state police, saying the measure was overdue given the country’s security challenges and the rise in poverty-related crimes.
The PRP candidate described the government’s student loan initiative as a good idea but warned that beneficiaries would struggle to repay the loans without a broader policy framework focused on creating jobs.
Duke further called for better coordination between monetary and fiscal policies, arguing that government spending must be better aligned with revenue generation to promote wealth creation and reduce poverty.
Atiku promises direct payment of LG allocations
Meanwhile, Atiku Abubakar has pledged to ensure that funds allocated to local governments are paid directly to them if he becomes president in 2027.
Atiku, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, said his administration would uphold the rule of law and guarantee constitutional independence for all tiers of government, including local councils.
He referred to the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment on local government financial autonomy, accusing the Tinubu administration of failing to fully enforce the ruling.
According to Atiku, his administration would ensure that public funds reach the level of government for which they are intended.
“My administration will respect court judgments, protect local government autonomy, ensure that public funds reach the people for whom they are meant, and restore true federalism,” he said.
He argued that direct access to funds would accelerate development at the grassroots, reduce poverty and strengthen local governments’ capacity to tackle insecurity, including crime and terrorism.
Atiku also alleged that political considerations ahead of the 2027 election were influencing the implementation of local government financial autonomy.
He claimed that some state governors were being allowed to retain control over local government funds in exchange for political support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“This is not the Nigeria we should accept,” the former vice president said.
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