Former Cross River State governor Donald Duke says he is open to stepping aside for a consensus opposition candidate ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, prompting reactions from other contenders.
Duke, who is the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, frames the need for opposition agreement as a prerequisite to selecting a challenger to President Bola Tinubu, arguing opposition parties should align on a common vision before deciding on who runs. Some outlets report Duke’s openness in relation to figures such as Atiku or Obi.
Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, criticises Duke’s stance, saying it reflects political manoeuvring and uncertainty around his own presidential ambition. Sowore alleges former President Olusegun Obasanjo is involved in arranging politicians to withdraw in order to support Peter Obi, which he describes as a “packaged” political plan.
Overall, outlets agree on Duke’s statement and the resulting political pushback, while differing on the emphasis: some focus on Duke’s conditions and call for consensus, while others foreground Sowore’s allegations about broader backroom influence.
