The merger negotiation between the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples party (NNPP), Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, and the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, may be heading to a deadlock. The deadlock may be precipitated over the ego politics of who should step down for the other as a running mate in the 2023 presidential election.
Leaders of both parties have declared that their respective presidential candidate will not step down for the vice-presidential ticket.
A member of the NNPP on Kano State, Abdulmumin Jibrin, acknowledging the merger negotiation between Kwankwaso of the NNPP and Obi of the LP, had declared in Sunday: “Very clearly, Kwankwaso will not be the running mate to Peter Obi. By every standard, Kwankwaso should be the presidential candidate.
“Kwankwaso has more political exposure and experience. He has a bigger profile when it comes to that. He has more experience politically on how to win the election.
“At the end of the day, when you look at the equity contribution in terms of votes, it will be a ratio of about 70 to 30 percent. We are looking at bringing 70 percent of the contributions.
“Even if it is business – Peter Obi is experienced in business – he knows that whoever is bringing the larger percentage of the equity is expected to stay on board.”
Jubrin said that Kwankwaso commands huge followership in northern Nigeria as President Muhammadu Buhari. He noted that the NNPP is also considering other options in the south beside Peter Obi. According to Jubrin, “we are working on getting a presidential running mate.”
He declared: “The southeast has been seriously backstabbed by the APC and they have been ‘front stabbed’ by the PDP. They have worked so much for the PDP. The PDP and APC have thrown away the southeast, they have said to them, ‘we don’t need you people.
“The last time the southeast has been on the table to discuss the presidency of this country was Alex Ekwueme. The first opportunity they have now is with Kwankwaso. They have to think very clearly not to waste their votes. They should come and take up the running mate. This is the best opportunity for them.
“The southeast should think clearly and rally around Kwankwaso.”
The argument continues in the two parties over the presidential and voce presidential tickets if the merger negotiation between Kwankwaso and Obi succeeds. At the moment, who gets the presidential and vice presidential tickets appears to be the main hindrance to the NNPP/LP merger talk.