The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has urged Nigerians to move beyond regional and ethnic considerations when choosing political leaders, insisting that competence, integrity, and vision should be the primary criteria for leadership selection.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, Baba-Ahmed made the remarks following the emergence of former Donald Duke as the party's presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. He stated that the PRP deliberately rejected politics centered on zoning and regional entitlement, choosing instead to focus on leadership capacity and national interest.
According to him, Nigeria's current challenges—including poverty, insecurity, and unemployment—affect citizens across all regions and require capable leadership rather than candidates selected based on geographical origin. He emphasized that the country has reached a point where voters should prioritize who can effectively solve national problems rather than where a candidate comes from.
Baba-Ahmed disclosed that all aspirants who contested for the party's presidential ticket were from Southern Nigeria and that no northern aspirant participated in the race. He explained that party members eventually settled on Duke through what he described as a transparent and democratic selection process because they believed he possessed the qualities needed to govern the country successfully.
"As a northerner, I am completely comfortable supporting Donald Duke because he is the best candidate available to us, not because he comes from the South," Baba-Ahmed said while stressing the need for Nigerians to abandon ethnic, religious, and regional sentiments in political decision-making.
The PRP chairman further criticized politicians who exploit ethnic and regional divisions for political gain, arguing that such practices weaken national unity and distract attention from governance and development. He maintained that the future of Nigeria depends on building a political culture that rewards competence, performance, and character.
Baba-Ahmed expressed confidence that Duke's candidacy would attract support from Nigerians across regional, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. He added that the country requires leaders capable of uniting citizens around a shared vision of peace, security, economic growth, and national prosperity.
The PRP says it will continue to promote issue-based politics and encourage Nigerians to assess candidates based on their track records, leadership qualities, and ability to deliver good governance rather than on identity considerations.
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