June 18, (THEWILL) – Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has confirmed that he is discussing with his counterpart in the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, on the possibility of a coalition.
There have been speculations of a “third force” to challenge the APC-PDP domination of Nigeria’s political scene.
Earlier, on Friday, Obi’s Campaign Director General, Doyin Okupe, had said the LP is discussing with some political parties to form a coalition for the 2023 elections.
Okupe, who is standing in as a dummy vice-presidential candidate of LP, said the party is working towards creating the “largest political coalition” in the country to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Confirming the ongoing development in an interview on BBC Hausa on Saturday, Kwankwaso, said his party is exploring the possibility of a merger with the LP, so as to win the 2023 presidential election, adding that family and well wishers were optimistic about the grand alliance.
Kwankwaso maintained that right now, only a merger will make it possible to defeat either the APC or the PDP.
“We are really talking to Peter Obi, or at least saying that the committee is working to look into the matter (and cooperate with him), and friends and family are coming to talk to us about it.
“Merging with the Labour Party is very significant at this critical moment, especially looking at the fact that both PDP and APC Presidential candidates did not pick their running mates from the South-East”, he said.
Similarly, the official handle of the NNPP conformed to the discussion between both parties on Saturday, via its Twitter handle.
“We wish to inform Nigerians that, our discussions with Peter Obi and the Labour Party are still ongoing. The special committee was set to discuss arrangements. We hope for good results that will give Nigeria a chance to be alive, once again”, the tweet read.
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