National Leader of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has declared that former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, possesses all the qualities required to emerge as the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News monitored by The News Chronicle, Baba-Ahmed insisted that Duke’s emergence followed due process, stressing that anyone dissatisfied with the outcome should channel their grievances through the party’s petition committee.
He also dismissed suggestions that Duke’s emergence was part of a political strategy aimed at exploiting divisions in the South to pave the way for an easy victory for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is the 2027 presidential flagbearer of African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Although Duke emerged as the PRP’s presidential flagbearer in absentia, Baba-Ahmed said the party’s decision was driven solely by competence, not regional considerations.
He noted that all three presidential aspirants of the party happened to be from Southern Nigeria, but insisted that this was purely coincidental and not by design.
“It doesn’t matter where the candidate is coming from. As long as he is good enough, he can defeat President Bola Tinubu.
This categorisation does not help us; it only deepens the divisions in the country. The PRP wants to set a new standard. This obsession with where you come from or what religion you practice is damaging Nigeria,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed further argued that many Nigerians, particularly in the North, have moved beyond regional politics and are increasingly focused on issues that directly affect their lives.
“At least I can speak for most Northerners.
They have moved away from the idea that merely coming from a particular region guarantees votes. I believe many people in the South have also learnt that lesson. Nigerians will not vote simply based on geography. They will vote based on the realities they face every day rising insecurity, crushing poverty, and the growing divisions fuelled by religion,” he added.
