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

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has criticised the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over its decision to pick Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso as the running mate to its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, saying the choice was a gross mistake.

In a statement issued on Monday, the NNPP’s National Secretary-General, Mr Ogini Olaposi, alleged that Kwankwaso’s conduct after contesting the 2023 presidential election on the NNPP platform showed that he could eventually betray the NDC.

According to the statement, the party claimed that Kwankwaso’s political history should have been considered before he was chosen as Obi’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Olaposi argued that the NNPP gave Kwankwaso a free presidential ticket in 2023, which he said helped raise his national political profile before he allegedly turned against the party.

“Kwankwaso dragged a party that brought him to the limelight in the presidential contest, freely gave him a platform and did all it could to support him. Once a betrayer, always a betrayer, and posterity will prove us right,” he said.

“Kwankwaso’s actions contributed to the crisis in our party and caused many of our members to leave.”

The statement also rejected claims that the party was handed over to Kwankwaso by its founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam.

He described the claim that the NNPP was handed over to Kwankwaso by the party’s founder as false, insisting that the party belongs to its Board of Trustees and was never given away.

Olaposi further argued that Peter Obi’s popularity alone would not guarantee victory for the NDC in 2027.

“Voters would also assess the record of the vice-presidential candidate,” the statement said.