‘Don’t cry wolf after Tinubu wins in 2027′ – Donald Duke warns opposition

Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Donald Duke, has warned opposition parties against waiting until after the 2027 presidential election to complain if they fail to unite against President Bola Tinubu.

Duke said a divided opposition could hand Tinubu victory at the polls, stressing that the opposition must resolve its differences and agree on a common candidate before the election.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, the former governor said opposition politicians should focus on preventing defeat rather than raising allegations after the election.

“Absolutely, with the chequered opposition it won’t work; Tinubu might win,” Duke said.

He warned that opposition parties had repeatedly made the mistake of remaining divided until election periods before questioning the outcome of elections.

“The reality is that things are bound to happen on that 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,” he said.

Donald Duke said the opposition must begin preparations early and learn from previous political contests, adding that unity would be critical if they want to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“We have done this several times over, we should anticipate it, and united we stand if we do it. If we don’t, then we will only have ourselves to blame because it has repeated itself,” he said.

The PRP presidential candidate also said he would be willing to withdraw from the 2027 race if opposition parties agree on a candidate capable of defeating Tinubu.

Asked if he would step down for another contender, Duke replied: “Absolutely.”

He said the priority should be finding the strongest candidate rather than protecting individual ambitions.

“Once we have commonality in objective, the next question is who is best suited for this?” he said.

While acknowledging Tinubu’s political strength, Duke criticised the President’s 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,” Duke said.

He argued that Nigeria needed a different leadership approach, claiming that the country’s economic challenges showed the consequences of poor governance.

Donald Duke said Tinubu should not be given another four years in office, warning that continued hardship and rising poverty could worsen if the country’s leadership direction does not change.

He maintained that the opposition’s best chance in 2027 depends on unity and choosing a candidate capable of convincing Nigerians at the polls.