The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has declared that its 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, will not be allowed to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the party.
The NNPP National Secretary, Ogini Olaposi, made the declaration in a statement issued on Sunday, January 11, in Lagos, insisting that the party’s presidential ticket for the next general election would only be open to bona fide and duly recognised members.
Olaposi said that unlike the 2023 election, when the party’s presidential ticket was solely handed to Kwankwaso, the NNPP would conduct an open process in 2027, allowing all qualified members to compete.
“Kwankwaso, who flew the NNPP ticket in 2023, will not be allowed to do so in 2027 due to the disagreements between the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement,” Olaposi stated.
He explained that the party’s decision followed unresolved disputes between the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, which he said had since severed ties with the party.
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According to Olaposi, the NNPP entered into a Memorandum of Association with the Kwankwasiyya Movement in 2022, but the agreement expired immediately after the 2023 general elections.
He further alleged that anti-party activities by members of the movement after the polls led to the expulsion of top figures, including Kwankwaso himself.
“Anti-party activities by some members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement after the presidential election led to the expulsion of top members, including Kwankwaso, Elder Buba Galadima and others, which has not been reversed,” he said.
The NNPP scribe disclosed that the party already has several aspiring presidential candidates ahead of 2027, including two Nigerians in the diaspora.
“Already, we have intending presidential aspirants, including two from the NNPP diaspora, and we are open to more, including alliances,” Olaposi said.
He added that the party was willing to collaborate with other political parties that share similar ideologies ahead of the next general election.
“The NNPP is open to collaborations with sister political parties that have similar ideologies in 2027,” he stated.
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Reacting to Kwankwaso’s recent claim that any party he defects to must offer him its presidential ticket, Olaposi dismissed the assertion as unrealistic.
“It is laughable that Kwankwaso is saying that if he must defect to any political party, including the APC, such a party must offer him its presidential ticket,” he said.
Olaposi argued that the former Kano State governor lacks nationwide electoral appeal when compared to President Bola Tinubu, claiming that Kwankwaso’s influence was largely regional.
“Kwankwaso does not have the selling capacity nationwide like President Bola Tinubu, with his alleged one million votes in Kano State,” he said.
He further claimed that Kwankwaso’s political relevance in Kano State had significantly diminished, noting that many key members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Kwankwaso’s influence in Kano State is overrated at the moment because many strategic members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement have already defected to the APC,” Olaposi added.
According to him, the APC’s prospects in 2027 would be driven by governance performance rather than political influence.
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“President Tinubu and the APC’s selling point for 2027 is based on performance as the ruling party and not undue influence,” he said.
Olaposi also warned political parties seeking alliances with the NNPP to engage only with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), stressing that it is the only body recognised by the courts to take such decisions.
“Kwankwaso and his group remain expelled and cannot negotiate for the NNPP. The NNPP National Working Committee will decide all alliances in 2027,” he stated.
The development comes amid growing speculation that prominent politicians, including Kwankwaso, are being courted by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other opposition platforms.
The speculation followed a public statement by Kwankwaso in Kano last Saturday, where he expressed readiness to align with any opposition coalition willing to offer him either the presidential or vice-presidential ticket, amid rumours surrounding a possible defection by Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf.