Former Cross River State Governor and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Donald Duke, has called for rigorous scrutiny of presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 election.
Duke said Nigeria’s worsening economic and security challenges left no room for experimental leadership, urging Nigerians to assess candidates based on their experience, capacity, track record and proposed solutions.
“I don’t think we should be testing. We’re in such dire states right now. We should actually grill whoever wants to take any responsible position in the public space today,” he said.
The former governor described the country’s situation as a disaster but said it could still be repaired through a change in direction.
“We’re already in a disaster. This is a disaster. But it’s repairable,” he said.
Duke, who governed Cross River State from 1999 to 2007, cited his administration’s focus on agriculture and tourism as examples of how governments could use the comparative advantages of their territories to stimulate economic activity.
He said the central responsibility of government was to create an environment where citizens could be productive while enjoying safety and order.
“The main essence, the main function of government is the optimal productivity of our citizens within a safe and orderly environment,” Duke said.
On the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Duke acknowledged Tinubu’s political experience and described him as “a formidable politician,” but said his concerns were centred on governance.
“He’s been a senator, he’s been a two-time governor. Give it to him. He’s a formidable politician. My issue with him is governance, not politics,” he said.
Duke expressed concern over what he described as worsening poverty and insecurity, saying the challenges were spreading across different parts of the country.
He also rejected suggestions that his criticism of Tinubu amounted to claiming superiority over the President.
“No. I didn’t say I’m better. I didn’t say I’m better. I’ll put in place a better governance structure than Bola Tinubu. That’s my conviction,” he said.
On the opposition coalition ahead of 2027, Duke warned against making the removal of the incumbent government its sole objective.
According to him, opposition parties should first agree on a common vision for Nigeria before determining who is best positioned to implement it.
“It’s not just to remove one and put another face,” he said.
Duke added that the coalition must agree on “where we ought to take Nigeria to” before selecting the person best suited to execute its programme.
He maintained that the current state of the country made the rigorous assessment of presidential candidates more important.
“I don’t think we should be testing,” he reiterated. “We’re in such dire states right now.”