The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has declared that its 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, will not be allowed to contest on the party’s platform in the 2027 presidential election.
The party’s National Secretary, Comrade Ogini Sunday, made this known in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos.
Olaposi stated that the NNPP’s 2027 presidential ticket would be open only to bona fide party members who meet the requirements to contest not just the presidency but other elective offices.
He explained that Kwankwaso, who flew the NNPP flag in the 2023 presidential election, would not be eligible to do so again in 2027 due to irreconcilable differences between the party and the Kwankwasiya Movement.
According to him, the NNPP entered into a Memorandum of Association with the Kwankwasiya Movement in 2022, which expired after the conclusion of the 2023 general elections.
“Following the presidential election, anti-party activities by some members of the Kwankwasiya Movement led to the expulsion of top figures, including Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Elder Buba Galadima and others. These expulsions have not been reversed”, Olaposi said.
He stressed that unlike in 2023, when the party’s presidential ticket was exclusively handed to Kwankwaso, the 2027 ticket would be open and competitive.
“The NNPP ticket for 2027 is open to all qualified party members. Already, we have several intending presidential aspirants, including two from the NNPP diaspora, and we are open to more aspirants as well as strategic alliances”, he added.
Olaposi also said the party was open to collaborations with other political parties that share similar ideologies ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reacting to reports that Kwankwaso had claimed any party he joins must offer him a presidential ticket, Olaposi described such assertions as laughable.
“Kwankwaso does not have the nationwide selling capacity of President Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar (Turaki), or Mr. Peter Obi. His alleged one million votes in Kano State are exaggerated”, he said.
He further argued that Kwankwaso’s political influence in Kano State has waned, noting that many key members of the Kwankwasiya Movement have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“President Tinubu and the APC are heading into 2027 with about 28 state governors, backed by performance as the ruling party, not undue influence. Kwankwaso’s influence as a former governor of Kano State can no longer significantly affect Tinubu’s votes in Kano in 2027, even with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the NNPP in alliance”, Olaposi added.
The NNPP national secretary urged political parties interested in forming alliances with the NNPP ahead of 2027 to engage with the party’s legally recognised National Working Committee.
“Kwankwaso and his group remain expelled and cannot negotiate on behalf of the NNPP.
The party’s founder, in consultation with the National Working Committee duly endorsed by the courts, will determine all alliances for 2027″, he said.