The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has described the call by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, on major political parties to form a coalition against the ruling APC in 2027 as medicine after death.
The Herald reports that while hosting a delegation from the national executive committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, Atiku said major parties need to come together as a united force against the APC to ensure Nigeria does not slide into a one-party state.
The former VP said, “We have all seen how the APC is increasingly turning Nigeria into a dictatorship of one party. If we don’t come together to challenge what the ruling party is trying to create, our democracy will suffer for it, and the consequences of it will affect the generations yet unborn.”
Reacting to Atiku’s proposition, Yakubu Shendam, the National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP said the party won’t join forces with people who are under emotions because the party is comfortable with Kwankwaso as its national leader, described Atiku’s call as emotional and medicine after death.
Shendam said, “This is like medicine after death. If there is any future collaboration, it should not be as a result of emotions. We are going all along because we have a gladiator who has the capacity to take over Nigeria.
“We believe that there is a need to canvass for support from people to win the election, from all sides. However, we believe that single-handedly Kwankwaso can deliver Nigeria in 2027.
“But that doesn’t mean that we are not looking for players like Atiku to join our party. If there is going to be a merger, it should be with the NNPP, because Atiku is now retiring, so, he should support Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
“We don’t want to join forces with people who are under emotions but we are comfortable as a party having a person like Rabiu Kwankwaso, as our national leader. We are calling on Atiku as an elder brother to close ranks with Kwankwaso if he wants to be relevant in 2027.”