‘Tinubu is a lion with horns’ — Donald Duke warns opposition ahead of 2027

‘Tinubu is a lion with horns’ — Donald Duke warns opposition ahead of 2027

Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate Donald Duke has urged Nigeria’s opposition parties to put aside personal ambitions and unite ahead of the 2027 presidential election, warning that President Bola Tinubu is too experienced and politically formidable to be underestimated.

Duke, a former Cross River State governor, said opposition parties would struggle to defeat the incumbent if they continue to pursue separate interests rather than building a coordinated political alliance.

He made the remarks during an interview with Symfoni, where he discussed the prospects of the opposition and the challenges of confronting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 election.

Duke argued that opposition politicians must first recognise the structural advantage that comes with occupying the presidency.

According to him, the incumbent has access to government institutions and machinery that gives the ruling party a significant advantage during elections.

“Even if the APC did nothing, they’re the party in power. If there’s a problem on that day, the IG of Police will not go to any of the contestants. He’ll go to the president.

“So everything is skewed in favour of the incumbent. Respect that,” Duke said.

The PRP candidate said opposition politicians must therefore work together if they hope to mount a serious challenge against Tinubu.

He warned that allowing individual presidential ambitions and political differences to dominate the opposition camp could result in the votes of anti-APC supporters being divided among several candidates.

“The only way you can seriously tackle the incumbent is to come together and have the force. Otherwise, you’ll be factionalised,” he said.

Duke also blamed what he described as political ego for some of the divisions within the opposition.

He argued that opposition politicians could end up undermining themselves by refusing to make the compromises necessary to build a common political platform.

“So when you talk of rigging, I think we are rigging it against ourselves because of our ego. We need to come together,” he said.

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The former governor also issued a warning against underestimating Tinubu’s political experience and ability to navigate Nigeria’s electoral landscape.

“Bola Tinubu is not an average politician. You don’t go to fight a lion who also has horns,” Duke said.

Explaining the analogy, he argued that an already powerful political opponent would become even more difficult to defeat if the opposition approached the contest without adequate preparation and unity.

“Can you imagine a lion with a horn? It’s already a dangerous animal. Then you now give it a horn and you say go and fight it with knife and fork. You’ll be the dinner. So, let’s get real,” he added.

Duke’s comments come amid growing efforts by opposition politicians and parties to explore the possibility of forming a coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.

Several prominent opposition figures have held consultations over a possible alliance to challenge the APC and present a stronger alternative to Tinubu.

Among those associated with the wider opposition realignment are former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and other political leaders.

The proposed coalition has generated significant political debate, with supporters arguing that a united opposition would have a better chance of challenging the APC than multiple parties contesting independently.

However, the coalition effort faces challenges, particularly over leadership, presidential ambitions, party structures and the choice of a consensus candidate.

The competing interests among opposition politicians could make it difficult to persuade major contenders to withdraw their individual ambitions and support a single presidential candidate.

Duke’s own political position also places him within the opposition’s presidential contest. He is the PRP’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election and has continued to advocate a broader alliance among opposition forces.

His call for unity therefore comes at a time when opposition parties are weighing whether individual candidates should maintain separate campaigns or work towards a common platform.

The former Cross River governor, who served from 1999 to 2007, believes the opposition must be realistic about the strength of the incumbent and the advantages associated with controlling the federal government.

His argument is that defeating an incumbent president requires more than criticism of the ruling party. Opposition parties, he said, must build an effective political structure capable of competing across the country.

The debate over opposition unity is expected to intensify as political parties begin preparations for the 2027 presidential election.

For the opposition, the central challenge will be whether competing political interests can be reconciled early enough to create a credible coalition and prevent the fragmentation of votes among multiple candidates.

Duke’s latest warning adds to the growing calls for opposition politicians to prioritise a collective strategy over individual ambitions if they are serious about mounting a strong challenge to Tinubu in 2027.

‘Tinubu is a lion with horns’ — Donald Duke warns opposition ahead of 2027