Former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, has declared his willingness to step down from the 2027 presidential race if opposition parties agree on a credible consensus candidate capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Duke, who is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), made the position known while discussing the prospects of the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former governor said his personal ambition should not stand in the way of efforts to unite opposition forces and produce a candidate with a strong chance of winning the presidential election.
According to Duke, what matters most is identifying the candidate who can best represent the collective interest of the opposition, rather than insisting on individual ambitions.
He said he would be prepared to support such a candidate if a credible consensus-building process produces someone considered capable of defeating the APC.
Duke also warned that a divided opposition could give President Bola Tinubu an advantage in the 2027 presidential election.
“Absolutely, with the chequered opposition it won’t work; Tinubu might win,” he said.
The former Cross River governor, however, distinguished between Tinubu’s political strength and his assessment of the President’s performance in government.
“Give it to him, he is a formidable politician, my issue with him is governance, not politics,” Duke said.
His comments come amid ongoing efforts by opposition politicians and political groups to build a broad coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The question of a consensus presidential candidate has remained one of the major issues within the opposition, with several prominent politicians expressing interest in the presidency.
Duke’s declaration could therefore add a new dimension to the opposition negotiations, particularly as political leaders weigh individual ambitions against the possibility of presenting a single candidate against the APC.
For Cross River State, the statement is also significant as Duke remains one of the state's most prominent political figures, having served as governor from 1999 to 2007.
With the 2027 election approaching, attention is now expected to focus on whether opposition parties can agree on a common candidate and whether other presidential hopefuls will make similar sacrifices in the interest of a broader coalition.
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