The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has warned the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, against choosing Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso as a running mate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The party alleged that Kwankwaso could eventually turn against the NDC, citing his political differences with the NNPP following the 2023 presidential election.
The NNPP National Secretary-General, Ogini Olaposi, issued the warning in a statement, describing the reported choice of Kwankwaso as Obi’s running mate as a “gross mistake.”
According to Olaposi, the NDC should carefully examine Kwankwaso’s political history before entrusting him with such a crucial position.
He said: “This is why political parties must be careful of who they choose as running mates and flag bearers.
“Kwankwaso dragged a party that brought him to the limelight in the presidential contest, freely gave him a platform and did all it could to support him, and now thinks he is free from the wrath of God?
“Once a betrayer, always a betrayer, and posterity will prove us right.”
Olaposi alleged that the NNPP gave Kwankwaso a rare opportunity to contest the presidency in 2023, including what he described as a free ticket, but claimed the former Kano State governor later turned against the party.
“The rare opportunity NNPP gave to Kwankwaso in 2023, in addition to a free ticket, is what has brought him to the frontline of negotiations at the presidential level in Nigeria at the moment,” he said.
He further accused Kwankwaso of contributing to the crisis within the NNPP, which he claimed led to the departure of several party members.
“We will not forget in a hurry how he destroyed the party, leading to our members leaving in droves. He will betray the NDC in the same manner shortly,” Olaposi alleged.
The NNPP chieftain also rejected claims that the party was handed over to Kwankwaso by its founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam.
“It is preposterous and unthinkable to assert that we dashed what belongs to the Board of Trustees of a registered political party out, without handing over the original certificate of registration,” he said.
Olaposi further argued that Obi’s popularity alone would not be enough to guarantee victory for the NDC in the 2027 election, stressing that Nigerians would also scrutinise the political antecedents of his running mate.
“One candidate in a party alone cannot guarantee victory. People will also look at the antecedents of the running mate because, in the event of any happenstance, the vice-president may become the president.
“Nigerians know this and the NDC will understand it at the polls,” he said.
He also dismissed the significance of large crowds at political rallies, arguing that such gatherings do not necessarily translate into votes during elections.
“Pulling rented crowds at rallies is not tantamount to votes. The same crowd will be paid to be everywhere else,” Olaposi said.
Olaposi urged the founder of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, to remain vigilant and ensure that the party’s structure was protected.
“It is our hope that Seriake Dickson, founder of NDC, shall be on the alert and ensure that his co-founders are duly activated to protect the structure of NDC from Kwankwaso,” he said.
He also appealed to NNPP members who had left the party to return ahead of the 2027 general elections.
