The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has said he joined the 2027 presidential race to address Nigeria’s challenges and give citizens a “new lease of life.”
Duke, who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, expressed concern over the country’s leadership since the return to democratic rule in 1999, arguing that successive administrations had failed to provide the vision needed to transform Nigeria.
The former Cross River State governor said while previous governments came into office with political programmes and policies, they often lacked the leadership vision required to achieve meaningful economic and political development.
“There has been frustration in the political system since the return to democracy. In reality, we could have done better than what we have if we had the right leadership. Since the return to democratic rule, there have been successive governments but there has not been one with leadership vision.
“That is why I have put up myself in order to provide the needed leadership to change the political question and provide the required development and growth. We in the political system do not need mudslinging but to tell Nigerians what we can do for the country,” he said.
Duke argued that many previous administrations assumed office without clearly defined visions, leading to policies that failed to adequately address the needs of Nigerians.
He also said the opposition could defeat the incumbent administration in 2027 if opposition parties were prepared to unite and support a candidate capable of leading a common front.
According to him, failure to forge such an alliance could give the President Bola Tinubu-led administration an advantage in the 2027 election.
Duke maintained that the All Progressives Congress (APC) could still be defeated despite its control of more than 30 states, arguing that a united opposition could overcome the ruling party’s political strength.
Duke Backs Fuel Subsidy
On the economy, the PRP candidate expressed support for subsidising petroleum products, arguing that the government should not deploy the country’s resources in ways that impose additional hardship on citizens.
He criticised the removal of the fuel subsidy and the sale of petroleum products at what he described as foreign-market rates, insisting that Nigerians should benefit more directly from the country’s natural resources.
Supports State Police
Duke also backed the establishment of state police, describing it as long overdue amid rising insecurity and poverty-related crimes across the country.
He argued that a decentralised policing structure would strengthen the country’s ability to respond more effectively to security challenges.
Student Loans
On the student loan scheme, Duke described the initiative as a good idea but expressed concern that beneficiaries could struggle to repay the loans without sufficient employment opportunities after graduation.
He therefore called for job-creation measures to be integrated into the student loan programme and other government interventions to ensure beneficiaries have the means to repay and improve their livelihoods.
