Babatunji Wusu –
- APC dismisses concerns over a potential alliance between NNPP’s Kwankwaso and Labour Party’s Obi.
- Bala Ibrahim cites a lack of trust and previous failed attempts as major obstacles to the alliance.
- Umar Farouk of the Labour Party expresses support for collaboration if Kwankwaso can set aside his ego.
- PDP’s Abdullahi Ibrahim welcomes the potential alliance, emphasizing the need for opposition unity to address national issues.
- The APC remains confident that any alliance would not threaten President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed concerns regarding a potential alliance between Rabiu Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Peter Obi of the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The APC asserts that such a coalition poses no threat to its political dominance.
In an interview with Punch on Monday, Bala Ibrahim, the APC’s National Publicity Director, expressed confidence that the proposed alliance would likely fail, similar to previous attempts before the 2023 presidential election. He identified a fundamental lack of trust between Obi and Kwankwaso as a major obstacle, noting that both politicians are unlikely to concede their aspirations for the presidency.
Ibrahim’s comments follow reports that Kwankwaso recently indicated a willingness to serve as Obi’s running mate, contingent upon undisclosed conditions. This development has ignited discussions about a possible merger between the NNPP and Labour Party. Umar Farouk, the Labour Party’s National Secretary, welcomed the notion, suggesting that collaboration could succeed if Kwankwaso could set aside his ego.
Despite these discussions, the APC remains steadfast in its belief that any such alliance would not significantly challenge President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027. Ibrahim remarked, “The underlying and most important factor in that permutation is the word trust, which will be the bane of their agreement. These are experiments that have been conducted several times, and the results cannot be expected to change unless the factor responsible for that result changes.”
He further elaborated, “Kwankwaso and Peter Obi have tried forming an alliance in the past on several occasions, but their romance didn’t last beyond the bedroom. They are strange bedfellows who can’t sleep in the same room. Both have one ambition—to lead the country at all costs—and neither is willing to surrender the seat to the other.”
Ibrahim concluded that the proposed alliance is merely “rhetoric” as the APC continues to make political progress, declaring, “What they are proposing now is just noise to survive. It is also the ranting of a party destined for doom.”
In contrast, Abdullahi Ibrahim, the National Deputy Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described the potential Obi-Kwankwaso alliance as a positive development. He expressed the PDP’s support for any talks on an alliance that could liberate Nigerians from the current hardships under the APC-led government.
Ibrahim stated, “It is a welcome development. We were the ones who started the discussion at the instance of the PDP, when major opposition figures met to review the state of the nation. We expect the opposition to close ranks and ensure they chart a common cause.”
He emphasized the PDP’s position as a major opposition party, with 13 governors, including the FCT, under its banner. He concluded by asserting that it is crucial for political actors to unite to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, who are eager for change from the current administration.
