NNPP Denies Plan To Collapse Structure For Peter Obi, Kwankwaso

NNPP denied reports of a secret alliance with NDC.
Party said Kwankwaso’s defection will not affect its structure.
NNPP remains open to alliances based on shared principles.

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has denied reports suggesting it has entered into a secret arrangement to dissolve its structure in support of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and its presidential aspirant, Peter Obi.

The clarification was made by the NNPP National Chairman, Bala Yusuf, during an interview on the sidelines of the party’s 11th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Yusuf stated that the party had not entered into any agreement with former presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the NDC or any other political party regarding the 2027 general election.

His remarks come amid growing speculation about the future of the NNPP following a series of high profile defections. In the last six months, the party lost its only elected governor, Abba Yusuf of Kano State, along with several political appointees, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The NNPP also lost its former presidential candidate, Kwankwaso, and former National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, to the NDC.

Despite the setbacks, Yusuf insisted that Kwankwaso’s departure would not influence the party to surrender its identity or political structure.

“This is just some people’s belief, but we as a party have taken the stand not to field a candidate because there are over 20 political parties registered under INEC and all of us cannot field candidates just for fielding sake.

“Again, we are not collapsing the NNPP structure for the NDC or the ruling party. That our former presidential candidate Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso joined the NDC is not enough to make us collapse our structure for him or any party,” he said.

The NNPP chairman explained that the party’s decision not to field a presidential candidate in 2027 should not be interpreted as support for any individual or political platform.

According to him, the party is more concerned about the emergence of a credible and competent leader capable of addressing Nigeria’s challenges than simply participating in the presidential race.

“It’s not for us to have a presidential candidate that matters. Nigeria is seriously in a very difficult situation. We need to see if other parties can bring out a very good, credible and well-focused presidential candidate. We want to see what other parties are producing as their authentic presidential candidate,” Yusuf stated.

He added that the NNPP remains open to forming alliances with parties whose constitution and manifesto align with its principles.

“We have to sit and see if we have very viable, presentable and qualified candidates. If we don’t have that, it’s not compulsory that we have to field a presidential candidate.

“We’ll look at them and then form an alliance to see how we can forge ahead. For now, we don’t have any party in mind. But if the party’s constitution and manifesto align with our own party, the NNPP, definitely we will seek to work together with that party.”