The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, Donald Duke, has said President Bola Tinubu could win the 2027 presidential election if opposition parties fail to unite behind a single candidate.
Duke made the statement on Monday while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed ongoing talks among opposition parties to form a coalition against Tinubu in the 2027 election.
He said the opposition’s failure to present a common candidate could work in Tinubu’s favour.
“Absolutely, with the chequered opposition it won’t work; Tinubu might win,” Duke said.
He, however, argued that a Tinubu victory under such circumstances would still amount to a minority government because the President might not secure a majority of the total 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.
Duke recalled that Tinubu secured about 37 per cent of the votes in the 2023 presidential election, noting that his share could be lower in 2027 if the opposition remains divided.
“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,” he said.
According to him, Tinubu’s main advantage would be the fragmentation of the opposition, which could allow him to win with a relatively small share of the total votes.
“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,” Duke added.