2027 Presidency: Donald Duke Not Placeholder, Says PRP Chair, Baba-Ahmed

The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has dismissed claims that the party’s presidential candidate, Donald Duke, is merely a placeholder for another aspirant, insisting that he emerged through a credible and transparent process.

Speaking during an interview monitored by Daily Trust Politics, Baba-Ahmed described Duke as an excellent candidate who offers Nigerians a clear departure from the country’s traditional political establishment.

“He is an excellent candidate. He can win the presidency. He should win the presidency because, in fact, of all the candidates we have, he represents a major break between the past and the future,” he said.

According to him, Duke joined the PRP voluntarily after identifying with the party’s principles and ideology and subsequently contested for its presidential ticket alongside two other aspirants.

Baba-Ahmed said Duke met all requirements for the contest and emerged winner through a free and fair process.

Responding to speculation that Duke was serving as a placeholder for another politician, the PRP chairman said the allegation was unfounded.

“This is the first time I’ve heard about this. He isn’t a placeholder. He is very serious about this. We are very proud of the fact that he came to the PRP, paid for his form, contested along with two other people and won it freely and squarely. Today, he is our candidate and we are very proud of him,” he said.

The PRP chairman also faulted the practice of zoning the presidency between the North and South, arguing that it unnecessarily restricts the pool of qualified candidates.

He said the PRP does not discriminate against aspirants on the basis of region or ethnicity and would support any Nigerian who emerges through its internal democratic process.

“We would not put an embargo on a northerner. In the PRP, we don’t have this damaging division between North and South,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed maintained that leadership positions should be open to all competent Nigerians regardless of geographical origin, stressing that merit should remain the overriding consideration in selecting political leaders.

His remarks come amid growing political consultations and alignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election.