The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has warned that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could secure victory in the 2027 presidential election if opposition parties fail to unite behind a single candidate.
Duke made the remarks on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed ongoing efforts by opposition parties to form a coalition ahead of the 2027 election.
According to the former Cross River State governor, a fragmented opposition could work to Tinubu’s advantage.
“Absolutely, with the chequered opposition it won’t work; Tinubu might win,” Duke said.
He, however, argued that such a victory would not necessarily mean that Tinubu had secured the support of a majority of Nigerian voters.
“If Tinubu wins, it will still be a minority government. He won’t get a majority of the votes cast on election day,” he said.
Duke recalled that Tinubu won about 37 per cent of the votes in the 2023 presidential election, suggesting that the President’s share could fall further in 2027 if opposition parties remain divided.
“Last time he had about 37 per cent of the votes. So that scenario may replay itself. It may even be less. He may get maybe 25 per cent, you know, and all that,” Duke said.
He explained that Tinubu’s major advantage could be the fragmentation of the opposition, which may allow him to emerge victorious without securing a large proportion of the overall votes.
“But because the opposition is fractured, all he would strive to do is get 25 per cent in two-thirds of the states and a simple majority. He doesn’t need to get 8 million votes. He could just get 10 votes more, five votes more than every other person. He has a majority,” Duke added.
Duke’s comments come amid ongoing discussions among opposition parties and political figures over the possibility of forming a coalition to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
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