Former Cross River State Governor and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Donald Duke, has alleged that some Nigerian politicians are resorting to human sacrifice in their desperate quest to win elections and acquire political power.
Duke warned that the growing desperation among political actors ahead of the 2027 general elections could trigger widespread violence and plunge Nigeria into crisis if urgent measures are not taken.
He spoke in Abuja on Tuesday when the Council of the Wise of the Savannah Centre for Democracy, Diplomacy and Development (SCDDD), led by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, visited him as part of its engagement with political actors ahead of the 2027 elections.
Duke said the desperation for political power had pushed some politicians to employ extreme and dangerous measures.
“Some do all sorts of things, even using human sacrifice and all that, because they’re seeking power. Let’s ask ourselves, how long are we going to go before we get it right?” he said.
The former governor recalled an incident during his tenure in Cross River State in which human body parts were allegedly discovered at the residence of a local government chairman.
“I cannot imagine, you know, while I was Governor, a case was brought up where we found body parts in the house of the Local Government chairman, schools, all sorts of things. What for?” Duke said.
He alleged that similar incidents occur in different parts of the country but are rarely discussed publicly.
“Now, this happens multiple times across the country. These are things that we know but we never talk about,” he added.
Duke said the desperation surrounding political contests had contributed to the erosion of democratic values, arguing that politics had gradually been transformed from a vocation into an occupation.
He also advocated a two-party system for Nigeria, saying it could help simplify the political process and strengthen the country’s democracy.
Earlier, Ariwoola urged Duke and other presidential candidates to ensure their campaigns were devoid of rancour, hate speech, inflammatory rhetoric and statements capable of provoking violence.
The former Chief Justice recalled the 2011 general elections, when election-related violence claimed more than 1,000 lives, particularly in parts of northern Nigeria.
Ariwoola said Nigeria’s political class had over the years turned elections into “matters of life and death”, with politicians allegedly deploying thuggery, hate speech, vote buying, rigging and ballot stuffing.
He urged presidential candidates to lead their supporters by example and comply with electoral laws and guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, respect for electoral rules remains critical to preventing violence, rebuilding public confidence and strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.