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LP welcomes Kwankwaso as Obi’s running mate ahead of 2027
The Labour Party (LP) has, on October 6, 2024, welcomed the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, as Mr. Peter Obi’s running mate ahead of 2027 presidential election.
This occurred nearly two years after negotiation between both parties went downhill.
Reports say that Kwankwaso expressed his willingness to back the former LP presidential candidate as running mate.
Prior to the general elections of 2023, LP and NNPP had reportedly discussed merging but failed to actualise it.
However, reports said that the heightened move failed because neither Obi nor Kwankwaso was willing to surrender the leadership to the other.
Speaking in Hausa, the former Kano State governor announced his preparedness on his official account through a video that went viral.
Kwankwaso, who affirmed his upcoming political status stated: “I’m bigger than Peter Obi politically.
“I’m his elder brother, I’m a Ph.D holder, I performed better than him when I was the governor of my state.
“I’ve no problem with deputising for Peter Obi, but only if certain conditions are met.”
He went on to say that they might have some deep meaningful conversations with Obi.
“We are willing to engage in discussions, provided that trust is established,” he said.
In the last elections, Peter Obi of the Labour Party received about 6,101,533 votes to finish third.
Meanwhile, Kwankwaso finished a distant fourth with 1,496,687 votes.
Recall that Kwankwaso has been outspoken in his criticism of the present Nigerian administration led by Bola Tinubu.
The LP National Secretary, Mr. Umar Farouk, responded in an interview, calling Kwankwaso’s reinvigorated initiative a positive step.
According to Mr. Farouk, LP is happy to have Kwankwaso as Peter Obi’s running mate ahead of 2027 presidential election.
Additionally, Farouk pleaded with the former governor of Kano to keep the merger talks alive.
He said: “As a political party, we stand for good governance.
“We have equally given all our candidates the opportunity to choose how to associate with people of like-minds who share the philosophy and ideology of the Labour Party.
“We are happy Kwankwaso is willing to offer himself to Obi as deputy having seen he garnered more than six million votes at the 2023 election.
“With his so-called popularity in the North, Kwankwaso could only amass less than two million votes.
“Again, he should stop this talk of being a bigger politician and PhD holder.
“What did he even do as a Minister of Defence?
“This is why we advise politicians to always consider the dynamics of politics to gauge the temperament of the electorate at a particular time.
“Of course, we know what played out in 2023 will be different from 2027.
“It will be in the interest of Nigerians if Obi and Kwankwaso are willing to come together and wrest power from the APC government.
“But again, we know the sitting government will not go to sleep and allow the renewed move to work,” he concluded.
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