By Ghazali Ibrahim
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has firmly distanced itself from its 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, stating that he will not contest on its platform in the 2027 general elections.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Major, in response to recent comments by political associate Buba Galadima, who claimed that Kwankwaso would remain in the NNPP and run for president under its banner in 2027.
Dr. Major, however, debunked Galadima’s remarks, clarifying that both Kwankwaso and Galadima had long been expelled from the NNPP for alleged anti-party activities and no longer represent or speak for the party.
“The NNPP had long expelled Kwankwaso and Galadima. They no longer speak for us nor can they use our platform for any political contest,” Major said.
He further revealed that the party’s Memorandum of Understanding with the Kwankwasiyya Movement, led by Kwankwaso, ended shortly after the 2023 election.
“We cannot even allow Kwankwaso, for whatever reason, to return to the NNPP fold because of the problems and internal wranglings he created,” he added.
Major accused Kwankwaso of attempting to hijack the party’s leadership, including altering the party’s logo to reflect his personal movement’s symbol during what he described as a Kangaroo convention in Abuja.
He noted that it took a court intervention for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to revert to the original NNPP logo.
According to the party chairman, the days of giving out presidential tickets on a “platter of gold” are over.
He dismissed Kwankwaso’s chances in any future political contest against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing his ambition as “dead on arrival.”
“Certainly, Kwankwaso can never join any political party where he will not have the chance of leadership. He does not have the pedigree to match President Tinubu in any contest,” Major said.
While acknowledging Kwankwaso’s right as a Nigerian citizen to seek any office, Major emphasized that the NNPP will not be part of his political ambitions or perceived confrontations with the presidency.
He also disclosed that the party is already in talks with potential aspirants for 2027 and assured that the eventual NNPP candidate would emerge through a transparent and constitutional process.
“The NNPP has moved on and cannot be dragged into unnecessary controversies again. We urge Nigerians to disregard any utterances from Kwankwaso and his group claiming to speak for the NNPP,” Major stated.
He advised Kwankwaso to float his own political party if he wishes to pursue a fresh presidential bid.
