Choosing Kwankwaso as Obi’s running mate ‘a gross mistake’ – NNPP tells NDC

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has strongly criticised the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for selecting Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso as its running mate alongside presidential candidate Peter Obi. The NNPP's National Secretary-General, Mr Ogini Olaposi, asserts that the choice was a "gross mistake" in a statement released on Monday.

Mr Olaposi claims that Kwankwaso's actions following his 2023 presidential election on the NNPP platform suggest he may betray the NDC in the future. He argues that the party's conduct during the 2023 contest, where it gave Kwankwaso a free presidential ticket, should have been taken into account before his selection as Obi's vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Mr Olaposi further contends that Kwankwaso's political history, and his alleged betrayal of the party, should have been thoroughly considered before his selection. He warns that posterity will prove his contention that "a betrayer, always a betrayer" to be correct.

The NNPP statement also dismisses claims that the NNPP was transferred to Kwankwaso by its founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam. It insists that the NNPP belongs to its Board of Trustees and was never given away. The statement asserts that Obi's popularity alone will not ensure victory for the NDC in the 2027 election, stating that voters will also scrutinize the record of the vice-presidential candidate.