2027 Election Bombshell: Donald Duke Reveals Why Opposition May Still Lose To Tinubu

Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke has said President Bola Tinubu no longer enjoys the level of popularity and public sympathy he had before the 2023 presidential election.

• Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Duke attributed the growing disillusionment among Nigerians to the economic hardship experienced under the Tinubu administration, saying many citizens are now focused on survival.
• Duke cautioned that the opposition could still lose the 2027 election if it remains divided, adding that he is prepared to withdraw from the presidential race if the opposition agrees on a consensus candidate.

Former Cross River State Governor and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Donald Duke, has said President Bola Tinubu’s political appeal has declined significantly compared with the period leading up to the 2023 elections.

Duke made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday while assessing Tinubu’s political standing ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the economic difficulties Nigerians have experienced under the Tinubu administration have contributed to growing dissatisfaction with the government.

Duke argued that the president no longer enjoys the sympathy and goodwill he had during the 2023 election.

“I don’t think so. I think his governance has exposed the weakness of the contraption called [the government]. I don’t think he has the sympathies he had in 2023,” Duke said.

He said the worsening economic situation has left many Nigerians disillusioned, with hope giving way to despair as citizens struggle to cope with the rising cost of living.

“Things have gone harder for people. A lot of people are disillusioned by his style of governance; hope has turned into despair. Yes, you talk about structures and all that, but I think on election day they will be fighting for their own survival,” he said.

Opposition Could Still Lose in 2027

Despite his assessment of Tinubu’s declining popularity, Duke warned that the opposition could still fail to defeat the president in 2027 if the various opposition parties remain divided.

He stressed that disunity could give Tinubu an advantage at the polls and potentially allow him to secure another term even without overwhelming nationwide support.

Duke urged opposition parties to learn from the 2023 election and begin preparations early to prevent a repeat of the divisions that affected their chances.

“The reality is that things are bound to happen on that [election] day. How to mitigate those things should be the major concern of the opposition. I don’t like people who cry wolf after it has happened and all that. We have done this several times over; we should anticipate it,” he said.

He added that unity would be crucial if the opposition hopes to defeat the incumbent.

“United we stand. If we do it, if we don’t, then we will only have ourselves to blame because it has repeated itself,” Duke said.

Duke: Tinubu Is Strong Politically but Weak on Governance

Duke acknowledged that Tinubu remains a formidable political figure but distinguished between the president’s political abilities and his performance in governance.

“Give it to him, he is a formidable politician. My issue with him is governance, not politics. He is weak on governance. From what we have seen over the last three years, he is very weak on governance,” he said.

Duke also argued that Tinubu should not be allowed to return for a second term, claiming that the country is moving in the wrong direction under the current administration.

He said that, if elected president in 2027, he would introduce a governance structure that he believes would deliver better results for Nigerians.

Duke Willing to Step Aside for Consensus Candidate

Duke further disclosed that he would be willing to withdraw his presidential ambition if opposition parties agree on a candidate capable of mounting a serious challenge to Tinubu.

Asked whether he would step aside for a consensus opposition candidate, the PRP presidential candidate responded in the affirmative.

“Absolutely. First of all, once we have commonality in objective, the next question is who is best suited for this? You need some voice of reason amongst the lot of them,” Duke said.