The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) says its 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, does not have its platform to contest against President Bola Tinubu and/or any other presidential candidate at the moment in 2027.
Dr Agbo Major, the NNPP’s National Chairman, confirmed this in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Major was commenting in response to Buba Galadima’s allegations that Kwankwaso will remain with the NNPP and run for president on their platform.
Galadima, who maintained that there is no proof that Kwankwaso is joining the All Progressives Congress as speculated, stated that they will “strategically stay in the NNPP until the whistle is blown for 2027 politics,” asking Nigerians to vote Kwankwaso for president.
Agbo added that the NNPP platform is closed to Kwankwaso and Galadima, who had previously been dismissed for anti-party acts.
“The NNPP has long expelled Kwankwaso and Galadima, so they can no longer speak for us or use our platform for political campaigns.
“Our Memorandum of Understanding with the Kwankwasiya Movement, led by Kwankwaso, ended shortly after the 2023 presidential election.
“We cannot even allow Kwankwaso, for whatever reason, to return to the NNPP fold because of the problems and internal wranglings he created for us.
“Kwankwaso led us into unnecessary litigation and even changed our party logo to the Kwankwasiya logo, all in an attempt to hijack the leadership of the party.
“It was the court’s interventions that led to INEC changing back to our logo that they submitted after a kangaroo convention in Abuja,” he said.
He stated that the former Kano state governor must be hoping for another free ticket as he received for the 2023 presidential election, but it will not happen again.
“Certainly, Kwankwaso can never join any political party where he will not have the chance of leadership.
“Kwankwaso and his group remain expelled, and we will not readmit them because they massively betrayed our trust.
“He does not have the pedigree to match President Tinubu in any contest, and so his ambition is dead on arrival,” he said.
The NNPP chairman stressed that, while the former Kano state governor has the right as a Nigerian to run for any post, he should do so without involving the party in any of his grievances against the president.
He revealed that the NNPP is being approached by several potential candidates and will comment on it at the proper time.
“Whoever will emerge as the NNPP 2027 presidential candidate will do so, following due process and constitutionality.
“We will no longer hand over our ticket on a platter of gold and definitely not to someone who betrayed our trust and is no longer in the party,” Major added.
He called on Nigerians to disregard utterances against the Presidency and APC by Kwankwaso and his group, claiming they are speaking for the NNPP.
“The NNPP as a party believes in constructive criticisms of issues and not against personalities or other political parties. We advise Kwankwaso to float his own party and use it for his own agenda.
“NNPP has moved on and can’t be dragged into unnecessary controversies again,” he added.
