The New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, has quashed claims that its Presidential Candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso and the Presidential flag bearer of Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi could be forming an alliance where Kwankwaso becomes the Running Mate.
A statement signed by NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Agbo Major, described media reports as “misleading and embarrassing.” Dismissing them as “false and a figment of the reporter’s imagination.”
He said, “NNPP has never said its esteemed Presidential Candidate, His Excellency, Engr. Dr. Rabiu Musa kwankwaso could accept to be Labour Party, Peter Obi’s deputy.
“The report is misleading and embarrassing to our great party, its Presidential Candidate, Kwankwaso and millions of supporters in Nigeria and in the diaspora.
“We urges journalists to crosscheck their reports before publishing them to avoid national division ahead of the crucial 2023 general election.”
NNPP’s Publicity Secretary further added that “As a mass movement, the NNPP acknowledged alliance talks with Labour Party that would consolidate and boost the nation’s frail democracy as we collectively strive for a new Nigeria which the party champions.
The Sunday Trust newspaper correctly stated in its report; “Asked to verify the proposed alliance, Major (Agbo) said talks were still ongoing and he wouldn’t want to speculate.
“If the party‘s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Agbo Major had said talks were ongoing, and he wouldn’t want to speculate,how did the newspaper arrive at Kwankwaso can deputise Obi?”
“NNPP has high regard for journalists as the watchdog of the nation and major stakeholders in the Nigeria democratic process and urges them to always crosscheck their reports before publishing them in tandem with the ethics of their profession.
“Together, we shall build a strong, virile, progressive, and egalitarian democratic society,” he added.
Kwankwaso had confirmed that NNPP and LP are in talks to create a great alliance ahead of the 2023 General elections during an interview with the BBC Hausa service. Though Kwankwaso did not suggest who would be the running mate between himself and Obi.
S.O