The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has criticised former Cross River State Governor and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Donald Duke, over his willingness to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race in support of a consensus opposition candidate.
Duke had on Tuesday indicated his readiness to step aside for a single opposition candidate ahead of the 2027 general election, a position that has triggered reactions from political stakeholders, including Sowore.
Reacting to the development, the AAC chieftain accused Duke of engaging in political manoeuvres allegedly designed to create uncertainty surrounding his presidential ambition.
Sowore further alleged that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was orchestrating moves to persuade certain opposition politicians to withdraw from the race in favour of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The activist recalled an earlier comment by Duke, who reportedly questioned whether he was actually contesting the 2027 presidential election.
According to Sowore, he suspected that the former governor’s remarks were part of a calculated effort by established political interests to undermine his ambition and create confusion about his candidacy.
In a statement posted on his X account, Sowore alleged that Duke was acting on behalf of Obasanjo, whom he accused of positioning some politicians to eventually step aside for Obi.
He described Obi as a “packaged political fraud,” insisting that recent political developments had reinforced his earlier concerns about the activities of established political figures ahead of the 2027 election.
Sowore said, “When former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, publicly claimed he did not know whether I was running for president in 2027, I responded immediately.
“I suspected it was a familiar game by establishment politicians, designed to pour cold water on our revolutionary ambition and create confusion about my candidacy.
“In fact, I heard he was sent by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is allegedly positioning a number of political weaklings to eventually step aside for his preferred candidate, @PeterObi.
“I have long maintained that Peter Obi is a packaged political fraud, and these latest political manoeuvres only ascertain my position.”
The AAC presidential candidate also questioned Duke’s seriousness about contesting the presidency, arguing that his willingness to withdraw from the race raised questions about his initial declaration.
Reaffirming his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, Sowore declared that he would not abandon his ambition because of political negotiations among established opposition figures.
“I said it then, and I maintain it now! I am running for President in 2027!” he stated.
He added that his political movement would resist attempts by established political interests to determine its direction through consensus arrangements.
“We know these establishment games. We know their methods. And we will not allow their political calculations to define our revolutionary ambition,” Sowore said.
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