2027: Donald Duke better than all presidential candidates out there — Baba-Ahmed
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the National Chairman of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), expressed strong confidence in the party’s presidential candidate, Donald Duke, describing him as the best contender leading up to the 2027 general election. However, he acknowledged that merely having a qualified candidate would not guarantee electoral success.
In an interview with Arise News on Wednesday, Baba-Ahmed stated, “Candidate for candidate, we think we have the best. We’re very fortunate to have him. So, candidate for candidate, Donald Duke is better than all the candidates out there.”
Despite this assertion, Baba-Ahmed emphasized the party’s recognition of the need for a broader strategy in the upcoming election. He noted that the PRP is actively engaging in coalition discussions with other political parties, understanding that candidate quality alone is insufficient to secure victory.
“However, we’re realistic enough to know that just the quality of your candidate doesn’t just win the election, which is the reason why the PRP is in the frontline, right at the heart of this coalition building,” he explained.
Baba-Ahmed highlighted that the push for a wider alliance is rooted in consensus and constitutional processes, rather than an insistence on Duke’s candidacy based solely on his credentials.
“We don’t want to prejudge or preempt anything by saying, ‘Because he’s the best, he has to be the candidate,’ by whatever means you come to do that. We want to build a coalition of parties that think the way we do,” he added.
He further underscored the significance of the 2027 election, characterizing it as a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s future. “Nigeria must, in the next four years, make a difference in the manner in which this country either develops or moves away from its fault lines, or just simply sinks into that. It really is that important,” said Baba-Ahmed.
His remarks come amid heightened coalition-building efforts among opposition parties as they prepare for the upcoming presidential race, with Duke emerging as a potential central figure for such alliances.
