•Peter Obi and Rafiu Kwankwaso
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has said the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is far from winning the 2027 presidential election because of the antecedents of its vice presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
This is contained in a statement by the NNPP Secretary General, Mr Ogini Olaposi, today.
Olaposi stated that “the betrayal of our great party by Kwankwaso, its 2023 presidential candidate is against God and humanity.”
He said further; “This is why political parties must be careful of who they choose as running mates and or flag bearer
“Kwankwaso dragged a party that brought him to limelight in the presidential contest freely and did all he could to hijack it from its owners and now thinks he is free from the wrath of God?
“Once a betrayer, always a betrayer and posterity will prove us right,” he stated.
Olaposi, who recalled claims by the Kwankwaso group that said Dr Boniface Aniebonam dashed Kwankwaso the NNPP, stated that it is laughable for anyone to think another can dash a party out.
“It is preposterous and unthinkable to assert that we dashed what belongs to the Board of Trustees of a registered political party out, without handing over the original certificate of registration.”
According to him, the NDC vice presidential candidate had the opportunity for the first time in his political life to contest the 2023 presidential election on the NNPP platform but turned around and stabbed the party.
“One candidate in a party alone cannot guarantee a win. What this means is that people will also look at the antecedents of the running mate in case of any happenstance, the vice may become the president.
“Nigerians know this and NDC will understand it at the polls. Pulling a rented crowd at rallies is not tantamount to votes. The same crowd will be paid to be every other place.
“The rare opportunity NNPP gave to Kwankwaso in 2023, in addition to a free ticket, is what has brought him to the frontline of negotiations at the presidential level in Nigeria at the moment.
“We will not forget in a hurry how he destroyed the party, leading to our members leaving in droves. He will betray the NDC in the same manner shortly.
“It is very sad and regrettable that Kwankwaso never appreciated our benevolence to him but rather, he claimed to have made NNPP popular with his one million votes coming a distant fourth to Mr Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election.
“Indeed the same Peter Obi he referred to as junior partner to him in politics and today he is carrying his bag following him behind
“It is our hope that Seriaka Dickson, founder of NDC, shall be on the alert and ensure that his co-founders are duly activated to protect the structure of NDC from Kwankwaso,” he added.
The NNPP national secretary, however, urged the party’s members, who were deceived to return to the party ahead of the 2027 general election, to be careful.
