The National Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Mr Ogini Olaposi, has stated that the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, will not be allowed to contest on its platform in the 2027 presidential election.
This was revealed by Olaposi in a statement released in Lagos on Sunday.
The national secretary of the NNPP reaffirmed that only legitimate members who want to run for president and other positions will be eligible for the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.
He pointed out that because of disputes between the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Kwankwaso, who flew the NNPP ticket in 2023, would not be permitted to do so in 2027.
Olaposi claims that the Kwankwasiyya Movement and the NNPP signed a Memorandum of Association in 2022, which ended during the elections.
“Anti-party activities by some members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement after the presidential election led to the expulsion of top members, including Kwankwaso, Elder Buba Galadima and others, which has not been reversed.
“The NNPP ticket for 2027 is open to all members, unlike in 2023 when it was solely given to Kwankwaso.
“Already, we have intending presidential aspirants, including two from the NNPP diaspora, and we are open to more, including alliances.
“The NNPP is open to collaborations with sister political parties that have similar ideologies in 2027,” Olaposi stated.
According to him, it is laughable that Kwankwaso is saying that if he must defect to any political party, including the APC, such a party must offer him its presidential ticket.
“Kwankwaso does not have the selling capacity nationwide like President Bola Tinubu, with his alleged one million votes in Kano State.
“Kwankwaso’s influence in Kano State is overrated at the moment because many strategic members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement have already defected to the APC.
“President Tinubu and the APC’s selling point for 2027 is based on performance as the ruling party and not undue influence.
“Kwankwaso’s influence as a former governor of Kano State is long gone and cannot affect Tinubu’s votes in Kano State in 2027,” he added.
Olaposi advised political groups looking to form alliances with the NNPP in 2027 to do so via the party’s National Working Committee, which he claimed is reliable and supported by the legal system.
“Kwankwaso and his group remain expelled and cannot negotiate for the NNPP. The NNPP National Working Committee will decide all alliances in 2027,” he added.
This comes after Kwankwaso made a public declaration in Kano last Saturday in which he stated that he would be glad to join any opposition alliance that is ready to give him the presidential or vice presidential ticket.
Amid speculations that Abba Yusuf, the governor of Kano State, was defecting, Kwankwaso made the comments while speaking to his followers and outlining requirements for any potential opposition coalition.
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