Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Donald Duke, has expressed uncertainty over whether African Action Congress (AAC) candidate Omoyele Sowore is seeking elective office in the 2027 general election, describing him instead as a “voice of conscience.”
Duke made the remarks during an interview with the Naija Unfiltered Podcast while discussing efforts by opposition politicians and groups, including G100, to build a united platform ahead of the 2027 presidential election, reports Vanguard.
According to Duke, Sowore occupies a somewhat different space in Nigerian politics because he speaks openly on issues that some politicians may avoid because of the constraints of political civility.
“Let me talk about Sowore. I like him. I’m not sure Sowore is running for office, with due respect to him, but I see him as a voice of conscience,” Duke said.
“He says things that some of us, maybe due to civility, won’t say, but they’re real.”
Duke, however, said opposition politicians should continue efforts to establish a common platform, stressing that the objective should not simply be to defeat President Bola Tinubu at the 2027 election.
He said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi had stayed away from some of the meetings convened as part of the opposition-unity efforts.
“It’s unfortunate that the two other candidates, Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Peter Obi, stayed away,” he said.
The PRP candidate said consultations among opposition stakeholders were still ongoing, expressing hope that the discussions would eventually produce a workable framework for cooperation.
He argued that opposition politicians should first agree on their vision for Nigeria before deciding who should emerge as their candidate.
“If it’s coming together just for the sake of defeating the incumbent, then I think it’s a waste of time. We must have a central objective about where we’d like to take Nigeria to, and who is best suited to do that,” Duke said.
Duke also advocated the long-term merger of opposition parties, arguing that a fragmented opposition would face difficulties competing effectively under Nigeria’s presidential system.
“I think the long-term objective is to merge the opposition. You can’t have a fractured opposition in a presidential system,” he said.
He further called for an end to what he described as the “winner-takes-all syndrome”, saying political cooperation should provide room for broader participation in government.
“I hear we have about 18 presidential candidates. They should all come together. There’s enough in Nigeria for all of us, and this winner-takes-all syndrome must end. That’s what we’re hoping for,” Duke said.
He added that discussions among opposition stakeholders were continuing and that the direction of the proposed alliance would become clearer as the consultations progressed.
