Get Guardian on GoogleThe Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has unveiled its manifesto ahead of the 2027 general elections, with its presidential candidate, Donald Duke, warning that Nigeria risks another civil war if the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) continues its desperation to retain power.
Duke, who spoke at the party’s national retreat for officers and its presidential, governorship and senatorial candidates in Abuja, drew parallels between the country’s current political atmosphere and events that preceded the 1966 military intervention and subsequent civil war.
He said the inability of opposition parties to collectively challenge the abuse of state power could push the country towards another national crisis, warning that the consequences of political desperation could be devastating.
According to the former Cross River State governor, the crisis that culminated in the civil war, which claimed over three million lives, began with a struggle for the retention of political power.
He said: “Having described the field of play and the desperation of the administration to retain power no matter what it may entail, it is incumbent on us as a party and a people to ask ourselves how to tackle this hydra-headed aberration, which, if unchecked, will push our country into a conflagration that is reminiscent of the 1966 quagmire that led to a civil war that cost over three million lives.
“It all started from a quest for the retention of power, and the repercussions have not fully healed over fifty-six years; the scars are still visible 36 for all to see. History is there for us to learn from past experiences, so as not to repeat, but to learn, for better or worse.
“But as George Bernard Shaw then rightly said, ‘experience teaches man that man does not learn from experience’.”
Duke accused the APC administration of deploying state institutions, including the courts, to weaken opposition parties, alleging that restrictions on campaign venues, advertising opportunities and political rallies had created an uneven playing field ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He also questioned the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), expressing concern over what he described as the revelation of more than 10 million artificial intelligence-generated registered voters.
The former governor argued that opposition parties should not expect a free and fair electoral process without collectively confronting what he described as growing restrictions on democratic participation.
He said the opposition must move beyond individual political ambitions and establish a common front to defend democratic principles.
“There has been a clarion call for the opposition to come together to address our common concerns. Not necessarily to compromise the ambitions of anybody but more importantly, to ensure that rules are obeyed and a government for the people, by the people, emerges,” he said.
Speaking later during an interview, Duke said he was willing to step down for another presidential candidate if opposition parties reached a consensus after agreeing on a common vision for the country.
He, however, cautioned against reducing the proposed opposition coalition to negotiations over who would emerge as its presidential candidate.
“You see, a coalition is not just about picking a presidential candidate. That’s the mistake we’re all making. It’s about us coming together to agree on where we would like to take our nation to,” he said.
He added that he would respect the outcome of a democratic process if the coalition agreed on another candidate, insisting that the priority should be to avoid replacing the current administration with a government that would take the country backwards.
“If the group, and about so far, they’re quite a number of us, if they come up with an agreement that this is the best person to lead the coalition, you can’t say you’re a Democrat, and you’re not subject to the rules and to the regulations of democracy. Of course, if it’s me, I hope they would do the same,” he said.
On the political environment, Duke alleged that opposition parties were being denied access to venues for their activities, claiming that the PRP had been forced to postpone its national retreat several times because of difficulties securing venues.
He alleged that exorbitant advertising fees in some states were making it difficult for opposition parties to publicise their campaigns, while the APC enjoyed greater access to public spaces.
“As it pertains to us in the PRP, we had to postpone this retreat several times because we were deprived of venues several times just to get a venue,” he said.
Unveiling the manifesto, the PRP National Chairman said the party was positioning itself as a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 general elections, with a policy agenda focused on tackling poverty, insecurity, corruption and unemployment.
He said the national retreat was designed to equip the party’s candidates and officers with the strategies needed to address the country’s political and economic challenges.
The chairman described Duke as the right candidate to lead Nigeria out of its current difficulties, while praising his running mate, Sule Mohammed, as well as the party’s governorship and legislative candidates.
He said the party would promote accountable leadership and greater participation by women and young Nigerians.
The chairman also announced plans to introduce a Compact with Constituents, which would require candidates contesting on the party’s platform to make specific commitments to voters and remain accountable if elected.
“We will be the first and only Party to ask members and contestants on our platforms to commit to a Compact with Constituents and Nigerians,” he said.
