Dr Ikpeazu: Strong Party Structure and Relationships Key to Winning Elections

Winning an election goes beyond being popular with the people, according to Dr Ikpeazu, who believes strong party structures and meaningful political relationships can be just as important in determining electoral success.

Dr Ikpeazu shares his perspective in Seun Oloketuyi’s forthcoming book, How to Win an Election in Nigeria, where he reflects on some of the realities of navigating Nigeria’s political landscape.

According to him, anyone seeking elective office must first understand the everyday concerns of the people and demonstrate a genuine commitment to addressing them.But public goodwill, he said, cannot always carry a candidate to victory on its own.

A functional party structure and strong relationships within the political system are also necessary, particularly when candidates are trying to navigate the complexities of the electoral process.

For Dr Ikpeazu, the challenge is finding the right balance between earning the trust of the electorate and building the political relationships and institutional support required to compete effectively. He also stressed that such relationships cannot be created overnight.

According to him, candidates who build genuine connections within their political environment long before an election have an advantage over those who only begin reaching out when they need support.

His reflections highlight the importance of looking beyond campaign popularity and understanding the wider political environment in which elections are won.

Dr Ikpeazu’s insights into the role of party structure, relationships and public trust are featured in Seun Oloketuyi’s How to Win an Election in Nigeria, scheduled for release on September 6.