Donald Duke says Tinubu’s governance is his major weakness, describing the President as a formidable politician but warning over Nigeria’s trajectory
Donald Duke, presidential candidate of the People’s Redemption Party, PRP, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a formidable politician while identifying governance as the major weakness of the President’s administration ahead of the 2027 election.
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Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, made the assessment during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, arguing that his reservations about Tinubu were centred on governance rather than political ability.
The two men have a shared history in Nigerian politics. Duke governed Cross River State from 1999 to 2007, while Tinubu was governor of Lagos State during the same period.
Despite his criticism, Duke acknowledged Tinubu’s political strength and determination.
“Give it to President Bola Tinubu. He’s a formidable politician. My issue with him is governance, not politics,” Duke said.
The PRP candidate, however, offered a far more critical assessment of Tinubu’s performance since becoming President in May 2023.
“From what we have seen in the last three years, he’s very weak on governance. We’re in a disaster. It’s repairable, but not with the trajectory he’s going,” Duke said.
His comments reflect one of the central arguments likely to shape the 2027 presidential contest: whether the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration are producing sufficient benefits for Nigerians or imposing costs that have become too heavy for households and businesses.
Tinubu’s administration has defended its reform programme, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign exchange regime, as necessary measures to address longstanding structural weaknesses in the Nigerian economy.
The government has also pointed to improvements in revenue collection, investment and macroeconomic indicators as evidence that its policies are beginning to yield results.
Critics, however, have argued that improvements in some macroeconomic indicators have yet to translate into meaningful relief for ordinary Nigerians, particularly amid persistent food-price pressures, unemployment and widespread economic hardship.
Duke warned that the consequences of continuing along the same path could become increasingly severe if poverty continues to rise.
“If we continue this way, where year after year poverty increases, I’m not sure it would be fine,” he said.
The former Cross River governor also described Tinubu as a politician who is deeply convinced about his approach to governing the country.
“He’s a stubborn politician too. Give it to him. He believes in what he’s doing. That’s his conviction,” Duke said.
Yet Duke left open the possibility that his assessment could change if the President altered course.
“If Tinubu comes back like a born-again and says he’s made a mistake, maybe we can consider it, but this trajectory, no,” he said.
The remarks carry particular political significance because Duke is not speaking solely as a former governor or political commentator.
He is now a presidential candidate preparing to contest against Tinubu and other major contenders in the 2027 election.
Duke’s candidacy adds another voice to an increasingly crowded opposition landscape as political parties seek to convince voters that an alternative to the incumbent administration is both possible and desirable.
His argument also seeks to distinguish political competence from administrative performance.
In Duke’s assessment, Tinubu’s ability to build political alliances, withstand opposition and pursue his convictions is not in question.
His concern is whether those political qualities have translated into effective governance.
That distinction could become increasingly important as the 2027 campaign develops.
For Tinubu, the challenge will be to demonstrate that the painful reforms of his administration are laying the foundation for stronger and more inclusive economic growth.
For Duke and other opposition candidates, the opportunity lies in persuading voters that the country’s difficulties require not merely different policies but a different approach to governance.
Duke’s warning that Nigeria is in a “disaster” is therefore more than a criticism of the President’s political style.
It is a direct challenge to the government’s record and a declaration of the argument he intends to take to voters in 2027.
With the election approaching, the contest is likely to revolve increasingly around a simple but consequential question: whether Nigerians believe Tinubu’s current trajectory is leading the country towards recovery or deeper hardship.
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For Duke, the answer is already clear. He believes Nigeria can still be repaired, but not by continuing on the present course.
