The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has declared that it would be a welcome relief if its 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, defects to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing him as a political burden best left behind.
Reacting to the resignation of APC national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje — and widespread speculation of a Kwankwaso-APC alliance — NNPP National Secretary, Oginni Olaposi, stated on Sunday that Kwankwaso’s departure would mark the end of a long chapter of betrayal and internal conflict within the party.
“Let the APC take on the weight we’ve carried long enough,” Olaposi said. “Kwankwaso is still parading himself as a member of our party even after his expulsion for anti-party activities.”
He accused Kwankwaso of not only attempting to hijack the NNPP but also dragging it through needless litigations by replacing the party’s official logo with that of his personal political brand, the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
“Thanks to INEC, our rightful identity has been restored after years of courtroom battles,” Olaposi noted.
He also cast doubt on claims that Ganduje’s resignation from the APC was purely for health reasons, suggesting instead that it may be tied to a backdoor arrangement paving way for Kwankwaso’s defection.
“It wouldn’t surprise us,” he added. “Kwankwaso betrayed the trust of Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, our founder, who gave him a free ride to the presidential ticket. Rather than appreciate that gesture, he attempted a total takeover.”
According to the NNPP scribe, the ruling party is better equipped to “handle the baggage” of the former Kano governor.
“Any deal between him and the APC would be a political unloading for us — and a strategic gamble for them.”
He further questioned the sincerity of a politician who is still fighting for control of one party while allegedly negotiating to join another.
“We find it hard to believe that someone so aggressively clinging to our platform is also in talks to defect. But if it’s true, good luck to them.”