By Bimbo Anjorin
Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised former Cross River State Governor and the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, presidential candidate, Donald Duke, following his indication to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race in support of a consensus opposition candidate.
Duke had, on Tuesday, expressed his willingness to step aside for a single opposition candidate ahead of the 2027 general election, a development that has attracted reactions from political figures, including Sowore.
Reacting to the development, Sowore accused Duke of engaging in political manoeuvres aimed at creating uncertainty around his presidential ambition.
Sowore claimed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was packaging those he described as political weaklings to step down for his preferred candidate, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi.
The AAC chieftain recalled an earlier comment by Duke, who had reportedly questioned whether he was contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Sowore said he suspected the former governor’s remarks were part of a calculated effort by established political interests to undermine his ambition and generate confusion about his candidacy.
He also alleged that Duke was acting on behalf of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he claimed was positioning certain politicians to eventually withdraw in favour of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Describing Obi as a “packaged political fraud,” Sowore maintained that the latest political developments reinforced his earlier concerns about plans by establishment politicians ahead of the 2027 election.
Sowore wrote on X, “When former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke… publicly claimed he did not know whether I was running for president in 2027, I responded immediately.
“I suspected it was a familiar game by establishment politicians, designed to pour cold water on our revolutionary ambition and create confusion about my candidacy.
“In fact, I heard he was sent by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is allegedly positioning a number of political weaklings to eventually step aside for his preferred candidate, @PeterObi.
“I have long maintained that Peter Obi is a packaged political fraud, and these latest political manoeuvres only ascertain my position.”
He further questioned Duke’s seriousness about contesting the presidency, arguing that his recent willingness to step down suggested that his initial declaration may have been part of a broader political strategy.
Reaffirming his intention to contest the election, Sowore declared, “I said it then, and I maintain it now! I am running for President in 2027!”
He added that his political movement would not allow the calculations of established political figures to determine its direction.
“We know these establishment games. We know their methods. And we will not allow their political calculations to define our revolutionary ambition,” he said.
