Former Cross River State Governor and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Donald Duke, has alleged that some Nigerian politicians resort to human sacrifice in their desperation to acquire political power.
Duke warned that growing desperation among political actors ahead of the 2027 general elections could trigger widespread violence and plunge the country into crisis if appropriate measures were not taken.
He spoke in Abuja on Tuesday when the Council of the Wise of the Savannah Centre for Democracy, Diplomacy and Development (SCDDD), led by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, visited him as part of its engagement with political actors ahead of the elections.
According to Duke, some politicians were increasingly willing to employ extreme measures in their pursuit of political power.
“Some do all sorts of things, even using human sacrifice and all that, because they’re seeking power. Let’s ask ourselves, how long are we going to go before we get it right?” he said.
Duke, who also advocated a two-party system for Nigeria, recalled an incident during his tenure as Cross River State governor in which human body parts were allegedly discovered in the residence of a local government chairman.
“I cannot imagine, you know, while I was Governor, a case was brought up where we found body parts in the house of the Local Government chairman, schools, all sorts of things. What for? Now, this happens multiple times across the country. These are things that we know but we never talk about,” he said.
The PRP presidential candidate argued that desperation surrounding political contests had contributed to the erosion of democratic values, saying politics had been transformed from a vocation into an occupation.
Duke expressed particular concern about statements from politicians suggesting that Nigeria could descend into violence if they believed they had been cheated during the electoral process.
“It’s so desperate that if we are not careful by the 16th of January, this country will burn,” he warned.
“When I listen to my colleagues who are aspiring, the level of desperation, or some that feel that they are being cheated out of our process.
“But when certain things start to manifest, they will tell you, if this happens, the country will burn. They say that openly. So all these means we are gearing up for war.”
Duke, however, pledged that the PRP would remain committed to peaceful and lawful conduct throughout the electoral process.
He also called for a fundamental overhaul of Nigeria’s electoral system, particularly the process for appointing the leadership and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, the political class should not determine who serves as the referee in elections, arguing that the appointment process should be genuinely independent.
Duke also advocated stronger sanctions for electoral violence and other actions capable of undermining democracy, saying politicians would continue taking dangerous risks if they believed there were no serious consequences.
Earlier, Ariwoola called on Duke and other presidential candidates to ensure their campaigns were devoid of rancour, hate speech, inflammatory statements and utterances capable of instigating violence.
The former Chief Justice recalled Nigeria’s history of election-related violence, particularly the 2011 general elections, saying more than 1,000 people were killed in the violence that followed the poll, especially in northern states.
According to Ariwoola, the political class had over the years turned elections into “matters of life and death”, deploying tactics including thuggery, hate speech, vote buying, rigging and ballot stuffing.
He urged presidential candidates to lead their supporters in complying with electoral laws and guidelines issued by INEC, saying adherence to the rules was necessary to build public trust and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
Friday Olokor
Follow us on:
