Donald Duke: Tinubu Could Win 2027 If Opposition Fails to Unite
Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate Donald Duke has warned that President Bola Tinubu could secure another term in 2027 if opposition parties fail to agree on a single candidate.
Duke made the prediction on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed efforts by opposition politicians to build a coalition capable of challenging Tinubu in the next presidential election.
He argued that a divided opposition could give the incumbent president an advantage, even if Tinubu does not win more than half of the total votes cast nationwide.
“Absolutely, with the chequered opposition it won’t work; Tinubu might win,” Duke said.
Duke Predicts Another Low-Percentage Victory
According to the former Cross River State governor, Tinubu could emerge victorious with a relatively small percentage of the vote if opposition candidates remain divided and compete against one another.
Duke described such an outcome as a minority government, arguing that winning the election would not necessarily mean securing a majority of all votes cast.
“If Tinubu wins, it will still be a minority government. He won’t get a majority of the votes cast on election day,” he said.
He pointed to the 2023 presidential election, when Tinubu won with about 37 per cent of the total votes, as an example of how a fragmented field could shape the result again in 2027.
“Last time he had about 37 per cent of the votes. So that scenario may replay itself. It may even be less. He may get maybe 25 per cent, you know, and all that,” Duke said.
Opposition Unity Could Change the Race
Duke believes the biggest advantage available to Tinubu heading into the 2027 election would be continued division among opposition parties.
He said a united opposition could present a stronger challenge, but several candidates sharing the anti-Tinubu vote could make it possible for the president to win without securing a dominant nationwide majority.
“But because the opposition is fractured, all he would strive to do is get 25 per cent in two-thirds of the states and a simple majority. He doesn’t need to get 8 million votes. He could just get 10 votes more, five votes more than every other person. He has a majority,” he added.
The comments come as opposition politicians continue discussions over a possible coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the question of whether the various parties can agree on a common candidate remaining central to the talks.
