Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

2027 poll: LP accepts Kwankwaso’s bid to be Obi’s running mate

POSTED ON October 7, 2024 •   Politics      BY Benedicta Bassey
The New Nigeria People’s Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso/ Photo credit: Tribune

The Labour Party (LP) says it has accepted the offer by the New Nigeria People’s Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, to be running mate to LP’s Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election.

LP and the NNPP had considered merger before the 2023 election but none of the party leadership was willing to concede.

However, Kwankwaso in a recent viral post where he spoke in Hausa, indicated his interest to serve as running mate to the former LP presidential flag bearer.

Kwankwaso said: “I’m bigger than Peter Obi politically; I’m his elder brother, I’m a PhD 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 called for further dialogue with Obi, saying, “We are willing to engage in discussions, provided that trust is established.”

In the last elections, Peter Obi of the Labour Party emerged third position, securing approximately 6,101,533 votes, while Kwankwaso garnered 1,496,687 votes to emerge a distant fourth position.

Recall that Kwankwaso has been vocal in his criticism of the Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government, faulting the government’s economic policies which has plunged Nigerians into hardship.

Reacting, the National Secretary of LP, Umar Farouk, said the move by Kwankwaso was a welcome development.

He also appealed to Kwankwaso to uphold merger talk especially with his insinuation of being a better politician and holding a higher education degree.

He said, “As a political party, we stand for good governance and we have equally given all our candidates, both former and serving ones, 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 has alighted from the high horse he was riding and 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 tne 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.”

Meanwhile, a legislative aide to the Deputy President of the Senate, Alhaji Ado Garba (Tati), however expressed optimism in President Bola Tinubu administration, saying, he would re-clinch the Presidential seat with a landslide victory in 2027, despite heightened cricitsm of his government.

According to Tati, while exchanging views with newsmen in Kano on Sunday, he is confident that the people of Kano will massively vote for President Tinubu and the APC in 2027.

“It is because of the goodwill of the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, which the people of the state have been enjoying,” he said.

Such goodwil, according to him include Senator Barau’s women and youths empowerment programmes, scholarship schemes, desilting of dams, provision of Federal and feeder roads and irrigation schemes in the Kano North Senatorial District, which he represents in the National Assembly.

Other initiatives, he said, include the distribution of 60 trucks to farmers free, establishment of a Transport Service, with over 1000 buses and facilitating siting of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) campus in Kano North Senatorial Zone.

“All these programmes have impacted positively on the lives of the people of Kano North in particular, and the people of Kano State in general,” he stated.

READ ALSO
Tinubu advocates stronger security agency collaboration to combat crime
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 25, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has called for enhanced collaboration among the country's security agencies to...

READ ALSO
PDP in Turmoil: Governors plot to dissolve party for El-Rufai/Obi presidential ticket
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 24, 2025 0

Reports reaching Rocketparrot News suggest that five governors from the opposition People's Democrat...

READ ALSO
Aiyedatiwa pardon 43 inmates i to mark inauguration ceremony
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 24, 2025 0

ONDO, Nigeria - To commemorate his inauguration, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has granted...

READ ALSO
Deputy Speaker highlights progress in constitutional review process
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 24, 2025 0

Akwa Ibom, Nigeria (NAN) - The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has re...

READ ALSO
A Twist of Fate: Babangida discusses credibility of June 12 elections
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 21, 2025 0

The former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), has provided a defense for...

READ ALSO
Senate to hold public hearing on Tinubu's tax reform bills
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 20, 2025 0

The Senate is set to commence a two-day public hearing concerning the four tax reform bills proposed...

READ ALSO
Tinubu  shows commitment to environmental protection
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 19, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has committed to intensifying his efforts in protecting the environment and pr...

READ ALSO
Lagos assembly members applaud LIRS's commitment to transparent Tax administration
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 19, 2025 0

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have praised the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (...

OUR CHANNELS:

Aiyedatiwa pardon 43 inmates i to mark inauguration ceremony
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 25, 2025 0

ONDO, Nigeria - To commemorate his inauguration, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has granted...


Tragic accident on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway claims Nine lives, injures three
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 25, 2025 0

At least nine individuals have been confirmed deceased, while three others suffered various injuries...


SERAP takes legal action against CBN over unjust ATM fee hike
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 25, 2025 0

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated legal action against the...


Major Drug Bust: NDLEA intercepts 46.60 kg of canadian loud at Lagos Airport
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 24, 2025 0

Agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have disrupted an attempt by a Thai natio...


FG unveils 'Skill-Up S-East' initiative to enhance fashion and Health
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 25, 2025 0

ABAKALIKIA, Nigeria (NAN) - The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement fo...


Ogun secures $2.5bn livestock investment from Brazilian giant JBS
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 24, 2025 0

Ogun State is poised to benefit from a $2.5 billion investment in livestock production from JBS, a c...


Telecom firms warn of shutdown due to fuel tanker drivers’ strike
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 24, 2025 0

The telecommunications companies in Nigeria have issued a warning of potential shutdowns if prompt a...


Civil servants demand immediate reduction in PAYE Tax amid economic strain
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 24, 2025 0

Numerous federal government employees have voiced their apprehensions regarding the substantial inco...


Deputy Speaker highlights progress in constitutional review process
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 24, 2025 0

Akwa Ibom, Nigeria (NAN) - The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has re...


FG to abolish Visa-on-Arrival Policy, citing ineffectiveness
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 24, 2025 0

The federal government has revealed its intentions to abolish the Visa-on-Arrival policy, emphasizin...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu