Rabiu Kwankwaso says the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is not planning a merger with any political party ahead of February’s presidential election.
While there have been claims that the NNPP presidential flagbearer is in talks with other leading candidates for this month’s exercise, Kwankwaso says there is no truth in such claims.
“We are not going to go into discussion with anybody. From now till the 25th, no discussion with any party whatsoever,” the former Kano State governor said during his appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday.
Kwankwaso, one of the frontrunners for the February poll, however, says a possible merger might happen if the election goes into a run-off.
“But after the first election, if need be, of course, we would discuss with people,” he added.
According to him, the NNPP is making inroads in major parts of the country which he believes is enough to give his party victory when Nigerians head to the ballot.
“My discussion now is with the voters. We have been going now from village to village,” the NNPP flagbearer maintained.
“People were receiving us in all the villages and towns across the country. We believe we are the people on the ground,” the former lawmaker said. “All these guys that are flying from one city to the other don’t even know what the problems that people are having in this country.”
He accused other contenders of not doing enough to woo voters across Nigeria, describing them as “weak and lazy politicians”.
“We are very happy and getting assurances by the day that they would go and vote for our party because we are the only people today with a national party that stands for change,” he said.
“We are the only party that has credible candidates. We are the only party that really believes in the suffering of the people.”