Former Cross River Governor Donald Duke has expressed readiness to abandon his 2027 presidential ambition for a consensus opposition candidate.
The PRP presidential candidate says he will respect a collective decision if opposition parties agree on someone better positioned to challenge President Bola Tinubu.
Duke made the declaration in Abuja during the unveiling of his running mate and party manifesto, as opposition parties intensify discussions ahead of 2027.
Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke has made a significant declaration about his 2027 presidential ambition, saying he is prepared to step aside if opposition parties agree on a common candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu.
Duke, who is contesting under the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), said opposition unity should be based on a shared vision for Nigeria rather than simply deciding who gets the presidential ticket.
He made the position known on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, in Abuja, during the unveiling of his running mate, Sule Mohammed, and the party’s manifesto.
Duke speaks on stepping down for Atiku, Obi
Responding to questions about whether he would withdraw from the presidential race for a stronger opposition candidate, Duke said he would accept the outcome of a democratic agreement among the parties.
He also mentioned the presidential ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), but declined to predict who would emerge from the ongoing discussions.
Duke maintained that the opposition must first agree on the future it wants for Nigeria before settling on an individual to lead the coalition.
He said:
“But at the end of the day, I’ll be sportsmanlike about it. 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.”
The former governor added that he would expect other aspirants to show the same understanding if he eventually emerged as the preferred candidate.
Read also: Tinubu Promises Nigerians Reliable Electricity, Cheaper Living Costs at APC Rally
He also warned against replacing the APC government with another administration that would repeat the same governance problems.
Duke raises concerns about APC’s campaign advantage
Beyond the coalition discussions, Duke accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of enjoying an unfair advantage in campaign visibility.
He claimed opposition parties were finding it difficult to secure advertising spaces and venues for political activities, while APC posters and billboards appeared more visible across Nigerian cities.
The PRP candidate further alleged that advertising spaces in some states could cost political parties as much as N1 billion, making nationwide campaigns financially challenging.
He also disclosed that his party had postponed its retreat several times because of difficulties securing venues.
PRP speaks on opposition coalition
The PRP National Chairman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, also addressed the proposed opposition alliance, saying the party was interested in working with other political groups but would not surrender its structure to another party.
He said the PRP could support one or two opposition candidates capable of defeating the APC but would maintain its political identity.
Baba-Ahmed added that the party wanted an alliance with clear plans to tackle insecurity, economic hardship and youth exclusion.
He insisted that the PRP was entering the 2027 election to win rather than participate merely to increase the number of candidates.
Opposition parties face major 2027 decision
Duke’s declaration comes amid renewed efforts by opposition parties to build an alliance ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Representatives of six opposition parties, including the PRP, ADC, NDC, Allied Peoples Movement, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party, attended an opposition summit in Abuja on August 31.
The meeting agreed to establish committees to examine political cooperation, a common national reform programme and the possibility of presenting a single presidential candidate.
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