By: Bayero Ade
Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections, has refuted claims of a rotational presidency pact with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi.
In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, which aired on Monday in Abuja, Kwankwaso clarified that he has not been in contact with either of the two politicians recently. He explained that he has chosen to remain politically neutral until the end of the year, allowing governments at all levels to focus on their governance duties without distraction.
According to Vanguard, Kwankwaso also accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of attempting to manipulate northern voters ahead of future elections. He emphasized that any political arrangement must be grounded in historical context and fairness.
He further criticized the PDP for allegedly attempting to secure support from the North without addressing the region’s issues, stating, “Before accepting any arrangement, we need to examine history and understand the real contributions of the PDP to the North.”
Kwankwaso expressed his discontent with how he and other political leaders, including Obi and Nyesom Wike, were forced out of the PDP, adding that the party’s current efforts to regain power were disingenuous. He also dismissed rumors suggesting a pact between Atiku, Obi, and himself, where Atiku would serve as president for four years, Kwankwaso for another four, and Obi for eight. Calling the claim “baseless,” he expressed disappointment that such falsehoods were being spread by elder statesmen in the party.
He concluded by stating that these deceptive actions contributed to his decision to leave the PDP and destabilized the party’s foundation.
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