The Lagos State Chairman, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Mr James Adeshina, says party’s presidential candidate, Donald Duke, can win the 2027 election by building a broad-based political coalition.
Adeshina, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos, said Duke, former two-term Cross River governor, possessed the experience, national appeal and leadership capacity to provide a credible alternative to Nigerians.
He, however, said personal popularity and public recognition alone would not guarantee victory, stressing the need for grassroots structures, strategic alliances and a disciplined nationwide campaign.
Adeshina said: “However, winning the 2027 presidential election will require more than personal popularity or public recognition.
“It will require a strong grassroots political structure, strategic alliances and a disciplined campaign capable of reaching voters across Nigeria.
“One important step Donald Duke should take immediately is to meet with PRP stakeholders, including state chairmen, local government leaders and ward leaders, to discuss the possibility of building a genuine political partnership.”
The PRP chairman said the ward remained the foundation of electoral politics in Nigeria, urging Duke to convert his national visibility into effective grassroots organisation.
He said engagement with party chairmen and ward leaders would enable the presidential candidate to understand the concerns of the people and develop a practical strategy for mobilising voters.
“The ward remains the foundation of electoral politics in Nigeria.
“Any presidential candidate who wants to win must understand that national visibility must be converted into grassroots organisation.
“Meeting directly with party chairmen and ward leaders would provide an opportunity to understand the concerns of the people and develop a practical strategy for mobilising voters,” he said.
Adeshina said Duke should build a broad political coalition involving progressive political parties, party leaders, civil society organisations, youth groups, professional associations and influential community leaders.
He said such a coalition should be founded on principles and national interest rather than personal political calculations.
The PRP chairman also urged Duke to commence his campaign from the grassroots by establishing structures from the state level to local governments, wards and polling units.
“The 2027 election will not be won on social media alone.
“Donald Duke must establish structures from the state level down to local governments, wards and polling units.
“This is why engagement with PRP chairmen and ward leaders is particularly important,” he said.
Adeshina said Duke would also need to present Nigerians with a clear economic programme capable of addressing major challenges confronting the country.
He said the programme should explain how a Duke administration would tackle unemployment, inflation, inadequate power supply, insecurity, education, healthcare and the rising cost of living.
“Nigerians need to know how a Donald Duke presidency would address unemployment, inflation, power supply, insecurity, education, healthcare and the high cost of living.
“The campaign must communicate practical solutions rather than slogans,” he said.
He urged Duke to make young Nigerians central to his campaign, noting that young people should participate beyond attending political rallies.
Adeshina said youths should be involved in policy development, digital mobilisation, campaign management and governance planning.
He added: “Nigeria has a predominantly young population.
“Young people should not merely be mobilised to attend rallies; they should participate in policy development, digital mobilisation, campaign management and governance planning.”
The PRP chairman said the 2027 election should provide Nigerians with an opportunity to choose based on ideas, competence, accountability and the future of the country.
He said Duke must therefore position himself as a candidate capable of providing a credible alternative to the established political order.
“The 2027 election should be about ideas, competence, accountability and the future of Nigeria.
“Donald Duke must position himself as a candidate capable of providing a credible alternative to the established political order,” he said.
Adeshina further advised Duke to respect existing political structures, saying party chairmen, ward leaders and other grassroots stakeholders possessed valuable knowledge about their communities and electorate.
He said such stakeholders should be treated as partners in the political process rather than merely as campaign machinery.
“Any attempt to build a presidential campaign without engaging existing grassroots political structures will be difficult.
“Party chairmen, ward leaders and other grassroots stakeholders possess valuable knowledge of their communities and the electorate.
“They must be treated as partners, not merely as campaign machinery,” he said.
Adeshina said, as Lagos State chairman of the PRP, he believed political engagement should begin with dialogue, consultation and mutual respect.
He encouraged Duke to engage PRP stakeholders, state chairmen and ward leaders on the future of Nigeria.
“If Donald Duke is serious about the 2027 presidency, I encourage him to begin by sitting down with PRP stakeholders, state chairmen and ward leaders to discuss the future of Nigeria and explore areas of cooperation.
“The 2027 election should not simply be about who occupies the presidency. It should be about what kind of Nigeria we want to build,” he said. (NAN)
