Former Cross River State Governor and 2027 presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, Donald Duke, has warned that opposition politicians could hand President Bola Tinubu another presidential victory if they allow personal ambitions and disagreements to prevent them from working together.
Duke said the opposition’s biggest threat ahead of the 2027 general election may not be the strength of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, but its own inability to form a united front.
He spoke in an interview shared by Symfoni on its YouTube channel on Friday.
According to Duke, opposition politicians are “rigging” the election against themselves when they prioritise personal interests over the need to build a formidable coalition.
He said the advantage of incumbency must not be underestimated, arguing that control of government institutions gives a sitting president a significant electoral advantage.
“Everything is skewed in favour of incumbent. Respect that,” Duke said.
The PRP presidential candidate maintained that opposition parties must set aside their differences and come together if they genuinely want to challenge Tinubu in 2027.
He warned that a fragmented opposition would lack the political force required to defeat the incumbent.
Duke described Tinubu as an experienced and formidable politician, using the metaphor of a lion with horns to illustrate the difficulty of defeating him without adequate preparation and unity.
“Bola Tinubu is not an average politician. You don’t go to fight a lion who also has horns,” he said.
Explaining the analogy, Duke said an opposition that confronts such a powerful incumbent without the necessary political strength would be at a disadvantage.
He added that opposition politicians must be realistic about the political terrain and stop allowing ego and individual ambitions to undermine their collective interests.
Duke’s warning comes amid ongoing efforts by opposition politicians and parties to forge alliances ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
With several opposition figures exploring different political platforms and coalition arrangements, the former governor said their ability to overcome personal ambitions and agree on a common strategy could determine whether they can mount a serious challenge to Tinubu.
For Duke, the message is simple: opposition unity is not optional if the goal is to defeat an incumbent with the political advantages of the presidency.