Donald Duke, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, has expressed uncertainty over whether Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) candidate, intends to contest the 2027 general election. Duke made this statement during an interview on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast while discussing efforts by opposition politicians and groups to build a united platform ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Duke described Sowore as a "voice of conscience" in Nigerian politics.
Duke acknowledged that he has a positive view of Sowore but suggested that the AAC candidate occupies a different space in Nigerian politics due to his outspoken approach to political and national issues. Duke stated that Sowore says things that some people might not say due to civility, but they are real. This statement comes amid renewed efforts by opposition figures and organisations to explore cooperation ahead of the 2027 election.
The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE), through a political commission led by Professor Pat Utomi, has been consulting opposition presidential candidates and party leaders on the possibility of producing a single candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC). The commission's discussions aim to go beyond simply asking candidates to step down, involving negotiations on how a consensus candidate would be selected and endorsed.
The proposed arrangement includes developing a common governance programme covering issues such as insecurity, unemployment, poverty, electoral reform, constitutional reform, education, healthcare, energy, and the cost of governance. However, Duke argued that any opposition alliance should be built around an agreed vision for Nigeria rather than solely to defeat the incumbent. He expressed disappointment that Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Peter Obi did not participate in the discussions.
Duke emphasized that the opposition needs to establish what it wants to accomplish for the country before determining which individual should emerge as its candidate. He stated that if the opposition comes together just to defeat the incumbent, it would be a waste of time. Instead, they must have a central objective for Nigeria's future and identify who is best suited to achieve that.
The PRP candidate advocated for a longer-term restructuring of the opposition, arguing that the number of competing political parties could make it difficult for opposition forces to mount a coordinated challenge under Nigeria's presidential system. He suggested that the opposition should merge and create a political arrangement where different interests can participate, rather than treating control of government as an all-or-nothing contest.
Sowore has publicly rejected the current coalition initiative, stating that neither he nor his party was participating in the Utomi-led discussions. He emphasized that the AAC has a different political and ideological programme from the parties and politicians involved in the coalition discussions, and they will pursue a "revolutionary break from the old order" centred on social and economic justice.
Key points
- Donald Duke expresses uncertainty over Omoyele Sowore's intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.
- The opposition is exploring a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 election.
- Sowore rejects the coalition initiative, citing the AAC's different political and ideological programme.
