Dr.Agbo Major, the national publicity secretary of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), has said alliance talks between the party and the Labour Party (LP) are progressing smoothly.
Bellnews Online reports that Agbo affirmed that Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano state and lawmaker at the National Assembly may accept being a running mate to Peter Obi who is the presidential candidate for the Labour Party.
Agbo added that talks between the two key parties that have been described by many as the possible third force that could rescue Nigeria are still underway,.
Although noting that he would not want to speculate on the possible outcome of the talks, Agbo added that either Kwankwaso or Obi could accept to become each other’s vice.
He said: “By the time we are done with the discussions, Nigerians will be happy, whichever way it turns out to be.”
Earlier, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Saturday, said his party is discussing with the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on the possibility of forming a coalition for next year’s general election.
Kwankwaso said: “It is true we are in talks with Peter Obi and a committee is working to look into how to form a merger between us.
“Friends and family are being up and doing talking about the merger arrangement,” Mr Kwankwaso added.
The former governor of Kano State explained that their teaming up is important,looking at the fact that the ruling All Progressives Congress APC and Peoples Democratic Party PDP did not pick their vice presidential candidates from the Igbo.
However, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-political organization, has warned Peter Obi, against accepting any arrangement that would make him a running mate to Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo in a statement on Tuesday by the Secretary-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said Obi would lose his popularity if he accepts to be Kwankwaso’s running mate.
The statement further said the merger arrangements between NNPP and LP would strengthen the chances of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso dislodging the ruling APC in the 2023 presidential election.
They said “The headache for the Labour Party is never to accept the Vice Presidential position for Obi, any arrangements that would see Obi as a running mate to Kwankwaso will end up the popularity of the Labour Party.