Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, former Cross River State Governor and Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, presidential candidate, Donald Duke, has warned opposition parties against attempting to defeat President Bola Tinubu separately.

Duke urged opposition parties to unite if they are serious about removing Tinubu from office in 2027.

He stated this in an interview with Symfoni TV, stressing that the political system naturally favours the incumbent and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

According to him, opposition parties must recognise the advantages enjoyed by the incumbent and work together rather than remain divided.

Duke said, “We can’t compare ourselves to China; even if the APC did nothing, they are the party in power.

“If there is a problem on that day, the IG of Police will not go to any of the candidates, but to the president, so everything is in favour of the incumbent; respect that.

“The only way you can seriously tackle the incumbent is to come together and have a voice; otherwise we will be factionalised.

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

The former governor described Tinubu as a formidable politician, warning that the opposition would be taking a major risk by confronting him without a united strategy.

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

“Can you imagine a lion with horns? It is already a dangerous animal. Then you now give it horns, and you say go and fight it with a knife and fork. You will be the dinner.”