Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has predicted that Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River State and candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the 2027 elections, will soon withdraw from the race. Sowore made the remarks during an appearance on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast on Symfoni TV, responding to Duke’s recent comments suggesting that Sowore is more of a “voice of conscience” than an active contestant.
Sowore Hits Back at Duke’s ‘Voice of Conscience’ Remark
Duke, who is running under the PRP platform for the 2027 presidential election, had earlier said in a separate interview that he was not certain whether Sowore was actively contesting. Duke described the activist as a “voice of conscience” who speaks on sensitive issues that many politicians avoid due to the demands of political civility.
Sowore pushed back on that characterisation, revealing that he called Duke directly after seeing the interview. He said: “I called Duke after that interview and told him I saw you said I am not running for the presidency; so, it is you that is running? He said, ‘Oh, Yele, anytime you are in Lagos, let’s see now.’ I’m just telling you that I know all of them.”
‘I Know Donald Duke Very Well’
Despite the criticism, Sowore acknowledged a personal familiarity with the former governor, saying, “I know Donald Duke very well. He is cool with me.” However, he maintained his prediction that Duke would soon withdraw from the 2027 presidential race.
Sowore also brought up a past legal matter involving Duke, claiming the former governor had been linked to a high-profile debt case that, in his view, cost Duke a chance at a previous presidential race. Sowore alleged that Duke was “blackballed” out of that contest because of the debt dispute. Legit.ng reports that the matter was later settled.
Tinapa Debt Case Referenced
Sharing a clip from his interview on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Sowore wrote: “I Know Them All: @Donald_Duke and the Burden of Tinapa. The story of Tinapa remains an important chapter in @Donald_Duke political legacy in Cross River State. But here is why Donald Duke will soon exit the Presidential Race.”
The Tinapa resort project, initiated during Duke’s tenure as governor, has been a subject of controversy and legal disputes over debts owed to lenders. Sowore’s reference to the case suggests he believes it remains a political liability for Duke.
In a related development, Sowore has also urged the federal government to raise the minimum wage of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) workers to N500,000, warning that low pay undermines the credibility of Nigerian polls. He made the call on his X account, arguing that workers entrusted with administering elections cannot be expected to protect the process while receiving inadequate compensation. He was reacting to INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan’s statement that the commission’s staff are among the lowest-paid workers in the country.
