POLITICS – The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has set a condition for accepting the proposed merger of opposition parties in the country, as suggested by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku, who is the presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, proposed that opposition parties should merge in order to remove the All Progressives Congress (APC) from power in 2027.
He made this suggestion during a meeting with the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) at his residence in Abuja on Monday.
The flagbearer of the PDP has issued a warning about the possibility of Nigeria becoming a one-party state.
In response to this proposition, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yakubu Shendam, expressed his views in an interview with The Punch on Wednesday.
He described Atiku’s call as emotional and a remedy that comes too late. Shendam stated that the party would only consider merging with another party if Atiku supports their presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in the 2023 elections.
Furthermore, Shendam mentioned that the NNPP would only accept the proposal if Atiku supports Kwankwaso in leading the effort to remove power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
He said, “This is like medicine after death. If there is any future collaboration, it should not be as a result of emotions. We are going all along because we have a gladiator who has the capacity to take over Nigeria.
“We believe that there is a need to canvass for support from people to win the election from all sides. However, we believe that single-handedly, Kwankwaso can deliver Nigeria in 2027.
“But that doesn’t mean that we are not looking for players like Atiku to join our party. If there is going to be a merger, it should be with the NNPP, because Atiku is now retiring, so he should support Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
“We don’t want to join forces with people who are under emotions, but we are comfortable as a party having a person like Rabiu Kwankwaso as our national leader. We are calling on Atiku as an elder brother to close ranks with Kwankwaso if he wants to be relevant in 2027.”
