Former Cross River State Governor and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Donald Duke, has expressed uncertainty over whether African Action Congress (AAC) candidate Omoyele Sowore is genuinely seeking elective office in the 2027 general election.
Duke made the remark while speaking on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast during a discussion on efforts by opposition politicians and groups to build a united platform ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The former Cross River governor said he likes Sowore but described him more as a “voice of conscience,” noting that the AAC candidate often speaks on issues that some politicians may avoid because of the demands of political civility.
“Let me talk about Sowore. I like him. I’m not sure Sowore is running for office, with due respect to him, but I see him as a voice of conscience,” Duke said.
Duke, who is himself listed among the presidential candidates for the January 2027 election, said opposition parties should focus on establishing what they want to achieve for Nigeria before deciding on a candidate.
He cautioned that an opposition alliance should not be formed simply for the purpose of defeating President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, the opposition needs to agree on a central objective for the country and determine who is best suited to achieve it.
Duke also noted that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi had not attended some of the meetings aimed at building opposition cooperation.
He advocated a long-term merger of opposition parties, arguing that a fragmented opposition would face difficulties under Nigeria's presidential system.
“I think the long-term objective is to merge the opposition. You can’t have a fractured opposition in a presidential system,” he said.
Duke further called for an end to what he described as the “winner-takes-all syndrome,” saying the country has enough opportunities for political actors to work together.
The former Cross River governor's comments come after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the final list of 18 presidential candidates for the 2027 election. Both Duke, representing the PRP, and Sowore of the AAC are on the published list.
Duke has previously used his 1999–2007 record as Cross River governor to outline his case for the presidency, saying his administration demonstrated a commitment to building strong institutions and appointing people based on competence.
Post A Comment: