Donald Duke Emerges PRP Presidential Candidate Ahead Of 2027 Elections

FORMER Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, has emerged as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the 2027 general elections following the party’s primary election held in Abuja.

The announcement was made by the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, at the PRP national secretariat, where he declared Duke winner of the contest after polling the highest number of votes cast during the exercise.

Duke Defeats Other Aspirants

According to the official results announced by the party leadership, Donald Duke secured a total of 6,499 votes to emerge victorious in the presidential primary.

His closest challenger, Kingsley Yakubu, who campaigned extensively on youth inclusion, economic reforms, and governance restructuring, polled 2,699 votes to finish second.

Another aspirant, Dr. Nnaoke Ufere, an academic and public policy expert, secured 784 votes in the exercise.

Party officials described the primary election as transparent, credible, and competitive, noting that the process reflected the party’s commitment to internal democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

PRP Leadership Commends Electoral Process

Speaking during the announcement of the results, PRP National Chairman, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, commended party members and delegates for conducting themselves peacefully throughout the exercise.

He stated that the primary election was conducted without bias or manipulation and assured members that the party remained committed to fairness and democratic principles.

Baba-Ahmed also encouraged any aggrieved aspirant or stakeholder dissatisfied with the outcome to channel complaints through the party’s Appeal Committee in line with internal procedures.

Duke’s Emergence Signals Early Political Realignments

Donald Duke’s emergence as the PRP presidential candidate is expected to intensify early political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

The former governor, who governed Cross River State between 1999 and 2007, remains one of Nigeria’s most recognisable political figures, particularly among younger voters and reform-minded groups.

Political observers believe his candidacy could help the PRP strengthen its visibility within Nigeria’s increasingly competitive political landscape, especially as smaller parties seek to challenge the dominance of the country’s major political blocs.

Focus Shifts To Campaign Strategy

With the presidential primary concluded, attention is now expected to shift toward coalition building, campaign mobilisation, and policy articulation by the party.

Analysts say issues such as economic recovery, youth unemployment, insecurity, governance reforms, and national unity are likely to dominate political conversations as parties prepare for the 2027 polls.

For the PRP, Duke’s emergence may also serve as an attempt to reposition the party as a viable alternative platform capable of attracting broader national attention ahead of the election cycle.