Donald Duke warns that an Atiku-Obi split could boost Tinubu’s 2027 chances as Nigerians worry about INEC, violence and election credibility.
Opposition Division Could Boost Tinubu
Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke has warned that a divided opposition could hand President Bola Tinubu victory in the 2027 presidential election.
Duke said the split among major opposition figures could scatter votes and give the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) an advantage. He spoke on Channels Television’s Morning Brief while discussing the opposition’s chances in 2027.
According to him, opposition leaders must unite if they want to defeat the APC. He compared Nigeria’s political system with that of the United States, where two major parties dominate national politics.
“We don’t understand what we’re doing,” Duke said.
He added that splitting a major opposition party into several smaller groups could allow the ruling party to remain in power for a long time.
Atiku Campaign Questions INEC’s Neutrality
Meanwhile, the Atiku Abubakar 2027 campaign has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain neutral ahead of the election. The campaign warned that INEC’s conduct would play a major role in determining the credibility of the 2027 polls.
Its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, also called for easier access to Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). He said voter registration figures would mean little if registered voters could not collect their cards.
“Reading out figures of registration is nothing; what matters is the number of cards actually collected by Nigerians,” Ologbondiyan said.
The campaign also asked INEC to move PVC collection to ward level. It wants longer collection hours and technology that can alert voters when their cards become available.
ADC Vows to Resist Election Rigging
At the same time, African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Chairman David Mark has promised to protect the party’s votes in 2027.
Mark made the statement when the Governing Council of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development visited the party’s headquarters in Abuja. Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, led the delegation.
Mark said ADC would respect electoral rules but would not tolerate manipulation.
“We will play by the rules. But we will not accept rigging or allow ourselves to be rigged out,” he said.
Ariwoola urged the party to ensure that its candidates and members follow electoral rules and reject political violence.
Nigerians Ready to Vote Despite Fears
Meanwhile, a new Yiaga Africa survey shows that many Nigerians remain interested in voting in 2027. The National Voting Intentions Survey found that 84 per cent of respondents are likely or very likely to vote.
However, concerns about election credibility remain high. Only 34 per cent of respondents said they trust INEC to conduct credible elections. That figure dropped from 45 per cent in the two previous surveys.
Security also remains a major concern. About 61 per cent of respondents said fear of violence could stop them from voting.
The survey covered 2,470 Nigerians across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Its findings suggest that Nigerians want to vote, but insecurity and distrust could affect actual turnout.
