RismadarVoice Reporters
September 5, 2026
Widespread condemnation and public outcry have followed explosive claims by Donald Duke, former Governor of Cross River State and presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), alleging that desperate politicians resort to human sacrifice to secure power in Nigeria.
Speaking to the media, Duke revealed that during his tenure as governor, law enforcement uncovered human remains and body parts at the residence of a local government chairman who engaged in ritual practices for political leverage.
“The fundamentals of our democracy are being lost because it is becoming a do-or-die affair literally,” Duke declared, warning that political desperation could trigger major electoral violence ahead of the 2027 general elections if left unchecked.
The former governor’s remarks have drawn sharp reactions from political scientists, civil rights activists, traditional rulers, and elder statesmen, many of whom are demanding immediate investigations by law enforcement agencies.
Reacting to the development, political scientist and former Chief of Staff to late Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Prof. ’Gbade Ojo, stressed that Duke’s allegations must not be dismissed as mere rhetoric.
“Elections are fundamentally about winning the confidence of the people, not eliminating opponents or seeking supernatural assistance through human sacrifice,” Ojo stated, calling on security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering and prosecute anyone involved in political rituals.
Former Ondo State SDP Chairman, Hon. Stephen Adewale, urged Duke to present any concrete evidence in his possession to relevant security authorities. Adewale noted that weak democratic institutions and a winner-takes-all system foster an environment where desperate aspirants pursue power at all costs.
Similarly, former Senate Chief Whip Sir Rowland Owie urged the electorate to expose politicians involved in occult practices, noting that those who engage in ritual acts inevitably meet disastrous ends.
Dr Jackson Omenazu, Chancellor of the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights (ISSJHR), called for swift, transparent investigations into political killings and ritual allegations to safeguard the integrity of the 2027 polls.
Other prominent voices, including former Ondo House of Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. Bakkita Bello, Igbo Women Assembly President Lolo Nneka Chimezie, and university don Prof. Okaba, emphasised that no political office is worth the shedding of human blood.
Stakeholders collectively called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties, and security agencies to enforce strict legal consequences against perpetrators of electoral violence and ritual acts to restore public trust in Nigeria’s democratic process.
