The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has declared that the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, will not be allowed to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the NNPP.
The National Secretary of the party, Ogini Olaposi, made the declaration in a statement issued on Sunday, January 11, in Lagos, insisting that the party’s presidential ticket for the next general election would only be available to bona fide members.
The NNPP scribe said that, unlike in 2023, when the party’s presidential ticket was solely given to Kwankwaso, the 2027 ticket would be open to all qualified members interested in contesting.
According to him, Kwankwaso’s disqualification stems from unresolved disagreements between the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, which he said had since severed ties with the party.
“Kwankwaso, who flew the NNPP ticket in 2023, will not be allowed to do so in 2027 due to the disagreements between the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement,” Olaposi stated.
Olaposi explained that the NNPP entered into a Memorandum of Association with the Kwankwasiyya Movement in 2022, but said the agreement expired after the 2023 general elections.
He added that alleged anti-party activities by members of the movement after the polls led to the expulsion of key figures, including Kwankwaso himself.
Anti-party activities by some members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement after the presidential election led to the expulsion of top members, including Kwankwaso, Elder Buba Galadima and others, which has not been reversed,” he said.
The NNPP national secretary disclosed that the party already has aspiring presidential candidates ahead of 2027, including two Nigerians in the diaspora.
“Already, we have intending presidential aspirants, including two from the NNPP diaspora, and we are open to more, including alliances,” he said.
He further stressed that the party was willing to collaborate with other political parties that share similar ideologies.
“The NNPP is open to collaborations with sister political parties that have similar ideologies in 2027,” Olaposi added.
Reacting to Kwankwaso’s recent statement that any party he defects to must offer him its presidential ticket, Olaposi dismissed the claim as unrealistic.
“It is laughable that Kwankwaso is saying that if he must defect to any political party, including the APC, such a party must offer him its presidential ticket,” he said.
Olaposi argued that the former Kano State governor lacked nationwide electoral appeal when compared to President Bola Tinubu.
“Kwankwaso does not have the selling capacity nationwide like President Bola Tinubu, with his alleged one million votes in Kano State,” he stated.
The NNPP chieftain further claimed that Kwankwaso’s political influence in Kano State had waned significantly, noting that many key figures within the Kwankwasiyya Movement had defected to the All Progressives Congress.
“Kwankwaso’s influence in Kano State is overrated at the moment because many strategic members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement have already defected to the APC,” he said.
He added that the APC’s strength going into the 2027 elections would be driven by performance rather than political influence.
President Tinubu and the APC’s selling point for 2027 is based on performance as the ruling party and not undue influence,” Olaposi said.
According to him, Kwankwaso’s past role as governor would not affect the APC’s chances in Kano.
“Kwankwaso’s influence as a former governor of Kano State is long gone and cannot affect Tinubu’s votes in Kano State in 2027,” he added.
Olaposi also warned political parties seeking alliances with the NNPP ahead of 2027 to engage only with the party’s National Working Committee.
He stressed that the NWC was the only legitimate body recognised by the courts to take such decisions.
“Kwankwaso and his group remain expelled and cannot negotiate for the NNPP. The NNPP National Working Committee will decide all alliances in 2027,” he said.
The development comes amid speculations that prominent politicians from other parties, including Kwankwaso, are being courted by the African Democratic Congress.
The speculation followed a public statement by Kwankwaso in Kano last Saturday, where he expressed readiness to align with any opposition coalition willing to offer him either the presidential or vice-presidential ticket.
Kwankwaso made the remarks while addressing his supporters amid rumours of a possible defection by Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, during which he outlined conditions for joining any opposition alliance.