A fresh crack has emerged within the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) after the party’s 2027 presidential aspirant, Engr. (Dr.) Yakubu Mohammed Kingsley, openly distanced himself from National Chairman Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed’s call for President Bola Tinubu to resign over the country’s worsening security situation.

Kingsley rejected the demand for Tinubu’s resignation, insisting that Nigeria’s democracy provides constitutional mechanisms for leadership transition and that political actors should focus on strengthening democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“I do not support calls for the resignation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Nigeria’s democracy provides constitutional processes for leadership transition, and our focus should be on strengthening our institutions and preparing for the 2027 General Elections,” he said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

The presidential hopeful, who is currently challenging in court the outcome of the PRP’s May 25 presidential primary that produced former Cross River State governor Donald Duke as the party’s presidential candidate, acknowledged the severe economic hardship and insecurity confronting Nigerians but argued that the solution lies in competent leadership and constitutional governance rather than demands for the President’s resignation.

Kingsley lamented that millions of Nigerians were grappling with rising living costs, unemployment and insecurity, with many farmers unable to access their farmlands due to persistent attacks.

Drawing from his personal background, he said his humble upbringing and 25-year career at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation equipped him with the experience needed to address Nigeria’s developmental challenges.

He also promoted his “YMK Nigeria Project,” which he said prioritises national security, electricity, industrialisation, hydrocarbon development, agriculture, youth empowerment, infrastructure, transparent governance and economic diversification.

Kingsley’s position directly contradicts that of Baba-Ahmed, who had urged President Tinubu to resign, arguing that the administration had failed in its constitutional responsibility to protect Nigerians amid worsening insecurity across the country. The PRP chairman maintained that the security situation had deteriorated to alarming levels, making no part of the country truly safe.

The disagreement exposes growing divisions within the PRP at a time the party is already contending with internal disputes over its presidential ticket, raising fresh questions about unity within one of Nigeria’s opposition parties as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.