CALABAR – Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), delivering a stinging parting shot to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambitions.
Duke formalised his membership at Ward 5, Calabar Municipality, on Friday, January 30, 2026, where he lambasted the PDP as a party burdened by “inimical baggage.” In a blunt assessment of the 2027 political landscape, Duke urged Atiku to abandon his perennial quest for the presidency, mocking the former Vice President’s self-comparison to American icon Abraham Lincoln.
“Atiku should stop running; he is not Abraham Lincoln,” Duke asserted. “Lincoln ran twice and won. Atiku has been running since 1992. It is time to step aside and become a kingmaker.”
The ‘Third Force’ Gains Momentum
Duke’s defection is the latest high-profile blow to the PDP, which is struggling to stem a tide of departures toward the African Democratic Congress. The ADC is rapidly consolidating as a “Third Force,” with other heavyweights like Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso reportedly in advanced talks to form a grand opposition coalition.
Duke argued that the PDP has become too fractured to lead Nigeria effectively. “Even as a candidate of the PDP, I would not do well because the party’s baggage is a hindrance to national growth,” he noted, adding that Nigeria’s “desperate” situation requires fresh, unburdened leadership.
Atiku Digs In
Despite the growing “step aside” chorus, Atiku Abubakar has shown no sign of withdrawal. His media office recently clarified that the former Vice President remains committed to the 2027 race, dismissing claims that he would cede his ambition to a younger candidate. Atiku maintains that his experience is vital to “rescuing Nigeria from the intensive care unit” of the current administration.
Shift in Southern Sentiment
As a prominent Southern voice, Duke’s exit highlights the deepening divide within the opposition over power rotation. He maintained that a Northern candidacy in 2027 would be a hard sell following years of Northern-led governance, urging the opposition to embrace “equity and competence” over “expired political permutations.”
The ADC leadership has described Duke’s entry as a “game-changer,” promising a manifesto that will “disrupt the status quo” and offer a credible alternative to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Will Donald Duke’s defection trigger a “final exodus” from the PDP, or can the main opposition party survive the loss of its most influential Southern icons?
