Donald Duke wants ordinary Nigerians to lead the country. He made the declaration in Abuja while accepting the Peoples Redemption Party's presidential ticket for 2027.
Duke blamed the nation's elite for current crises. He said bandits now collect taxes while government makes excuses instead of solving problems.
According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, kidnappers received roughly N2 trillion in ransom payments during 2025 alone. This figure represents about 10 percent of the entire federal budget, Duke noted.
He traced the mess to failed leadership decisions made at the wrong time. "The best politics is doing what's right, not what's convenient," Duke told party members and supporters.
Leaders who don't understand what's right shouldn't be in charge, he added. His vision includes farmers working safely and every child getting proper school desks and classrooms.
Duke drew a clear line between his mission and previous administrations. According to him, the elite have had their chance to govern.
"The scavengers have had their turn," he declared. "Now it belongs to the common man—the market woman, the farmer, the unemployed graduate."
He positioned himself as their champion in a difficult struggle ahead. Opposition will be fierce, Duke warned, but Nigerians are tougher and more determined.
"If we united to win independence from an empire, we can rescue Nigeria from these scavengers together," he said. His message was defiant and rooted in historical memory.
Party National Chairman Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed spoke before Duke's address. He described the presidential candidate as Nigeria's best option to tackle mounting problems.
Every PRP candidate represents selfless service with excellence, Baba-Ahmed told the crowd. These men and women understand what lies ahead for the nation.
They know which politicians destroyed the country, he continued. They've witnessed how leaders captured democratic institutions and wrecked governance.
Baba-Ahmed said the candidates possess the ability to reverse the damage. According to him, they can transform Nigeria's trajectory entirely.
He called the event a turning point for national restoration. This moment marks the beginning of hope recovery and national rebuilding.
Nigeria's condition demands urgent leadership change, Baba-Ahmed stressed. Democratic institutions need strengthening, poverty requires decisive action, and resources must benefit all citizens.
Currently, a privileged few control the nation's wealth, he lamented. This arrangement must end under new governance.
PRP is committed to justice and accountability, he said. Responsible governance will inspire Nigerians to reclaim their country at last.
