Umar Farouk, National Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), and Tai Emeka Obasi, media aide to LP flag bearer, Peter Obi, have spoken out about the alleged ongoing merger arrangement with the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
According to reports, Obi, Kwankwaso, and Atiku have begun preliminary talks on a prospective merger, with the ultimate goal of establishing a strong platform capable of unseating the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC).
Farouk told The PUNCH that the news stating the Labour Party will unite with the PDP and NNPP contained no reality.
While he did not rule out the prospect of an alliance, he stated unequivocally that the Labour Party would never combine with any other political platform.
Farouk said: “That is not true. I think it is the imagination of the writer. It has not come to us as a party. Whatever is going on, if at all it is true, Peter Obi is probably doing that as a candidate, which he has a right to do and associate with whoever he wants to associate with.
“But as a party, we are not thinking of a merger with any political party. And Labour Party will never merge with any party.
“Whatever the issue may be, we cannot take any decision until after the judgment of our election petition at the tribunal. But as I mentioned earlier, count LP out of any merger with political parties. Alliance may be possible, though.”
In addition, Emeka Obasi stated that Peter Obi prefers to wait for the ultimate decision of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal before reclaiming their mandate.
He said, “I don’t know of anything like that. Just like every other person, we are still waiting for the judgment of the tribunal. What’s the need for a merger without first getting the judgment? Are they merging as opposition teams, or what?
“I really don’t think so. I have also not heard my principal mention anything like that. My principal is someone who is very open and can interact on issues. Of course, we have respect for Atiku and also have the same for Kwankwaso.
“But those who are close to Obi know he has no enemy except for those fighting him unnecessarily. He is a Nigerian who will always interact with any other Nigerian for the good of Nigeria. But with the level of margin, I can tell you that for now, there is nothing like the merger you talked about.”
