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The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a formidable politician, urging opposition parties to unite if they hope to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general election.
Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, made the remarks in an interview shared on X on Friday, saying the advantage of incumbency gives the President a significant edge over his challengers.
According to him, opposition parties would struggle to unseat Tinubu if they remain divided and pursue separate political ambitions.
He noted that the occupant of the presidency naturally enjoys the support of state institutions, making it difficult for fragmented opposition parties to compete effectively.
"Everything is skewed in favour of the incumbent. Respect that," Duke said, stressing that political realities must be acknowledged.
He argued that the only realistic path to victory for the opposition is to build a broad coalition capable of confronting the ruling party.
"The only way you can seriously tackle an incumbent is to come together. Otherwise, you'll be factionalised. We are rigging it against ourselves because of our ego. We need to come together," he said.
Using a vivid analogy to illustrate Tinubu's political strength, Duke said, “Bola Tinubu is not an average politician. You don't go to fight a lion who also has horns.”
He explained that taking on such a formidable opponent without adequate preparation would amount to political suicide.
"Imagine a lion with horns. It's already a dangerous animal, then you give it horns and ask someone armed with only a knife and fork to fight it. You'll become the dinner. Let's get real," he added.
Duke's comments come amid ongoing consultations among opposition leaders over possible alliances ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The former governor maintained that unless opposition parties set aside personal interests and unite behind a common agenda, they would inadvertently strengthen the ruling party's chances of retaining power.
