Kwankwaso Currently Has No Platform To Run Against Tinubu — NNPP

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has announced that its 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is no longer permitted to use its platform to contest the 2027 presidential election against President Bola Tinubu or any other candidate.

Dr. Agbo Major, the party’s National Chairman, issued a statement on Saturday clarifying this position in response to claims by Elder Buba Galadima, who asserted that Kwankwaso would remain with the NNPP and run for president under its banner in the upcoming general elections.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Major refuted Galadima’s claims, emphasizing that both Kwankwaso and Galadima were expelled from the party long ago for engaging in anti-party activities.

“The NNPP had long expelled Kwankwaso and Galadima, and so they no longer speak for us, nor can they use our platform for any political contest,” Major said.

He explained that the Memorandum of Understanding between the party and the Kwankwasiya Movement, led by Kwankwaso, was terminated shortly after the 2023 election. Major also accused Kwankwaso of instigating internal conflicts and attempting to take over the party by replacing its logo with that of the Kwankwasiya group.

“Kwankwaso led us into unnecessary litigations and even changed our party logo to the Kwankwasiya logo, all in an attempt to hijack the leadership of the party,” he said. “It was the Court’s interventions that led to INEC changing back to our logo that they submitted after a kangaroo convention in Abuja.”

Major further stated that Kwankwaso’s hopes for another automatic ticket in 2027 are misguided.

“Kwankwaso must be counting on another free ticket like he got for the 2023 presidential election, but it would not happen again,” Major said. “Certainly, Kwankwaso can never join any political party where he will not have the chance of leadership.”

Major also argued that Kwankwaso lacks the political stature to compete against President Tinubu.

“He does not have the pedigree to match President Tinubu in any contest, and so his ambition is dead on arrival,” he said.

While recognizing Kwankwaso’s constitutional right to contest any election, Major stressed that the NNPP should not be involved in his political disputes.

“It is his right as a Nigerian to seek to contest for any office, but he should do so without getting the party involved in any of his antagonisms against the president.”

Major noted that the party is currently in discussions with potential aspirants and will select its 2027 presidential candidate through a transparent and constitutional process.

“Whoever will emerge as the NNPP 2027 presidential candidate will do so, following due process and constitutionality,” he said. “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.”

He called on Nigerians to ignore statements from Kwankwaso or his associates claiming to represent the NNPP, particularly those criticizing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the presidency.

“The NNPP as a party believes in constructive criticisms of issues and not against personalities or other political parties,” he said. “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.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli