I’m in presidential race to unite opposition, not split votes – Duke

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, Wednesday  said in Abuja that his return to the presidential race is motivated by the  desire to help unite Nigeria’s opposition forces rather than contribute to the fragmentation of votes.

Duke, who contested the presidency in the past on the platform of another party  said he decided to return to the political arena because of what he described as the urgent need for a credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former Cross River state governor said:  “My ambition should not be interpreted as another attempt by an individual politician to secure the presidency.

“The central issue is how opposition politicians can work together to offer Nigerians a realistic alternative. The country is facing serious economic and security challenges and the opposition had a responsibility to present a coherent programme for addressing them.

“My participation in the presidential contest is therefore part of a broader effort to contribute to the search for political solutions.”

The PRP candidate acknowledged that multiple opposition candidates could potentially divide votes, but said the answer was not for politicians to withdraw from politics without first building an alternative structure capable of uniting them.

He argued that what Nigeria needed was a process through which opposition politicians could identify areas of agreement and eventually work towards a stronger common platform.

Duke said he was prepared to engage with other opposition leaders and political actors in the interest of creating such an alliance.

He added that the objective should be to give Nigerians a genuine choice at the ballot box.

The former governor said his political experience had given him a clearer understanding of the challenges involved in governing Nigeria.

He said:  “The country needs leadership capable of making difficult decisions, managing resources responsibly and creating an environment for businesses and citizens to prosper.

“My return to the presidential race is therefore not simply about occupying the presidential seat.

“It is about helping to reshape the political conversation and demonstrate that Nigeria could be governed differently.”

He urged opposition politicians to focus less on individual ambition and more on the national interest.