The Labour Party (LP) has welcomed the proposal from Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, to serve as running mate to Peter Obi in 2027 presidential race.
In a recent viral video, Kwankwaso expressed his willingness to join Obi on the ticket, stating he is open to discussions if certain conditions are met.
This development comes nearly two years after failed merger talks between the LP and NNPP, which collapsed due to leadership disputes between the two parties.
Kwankwaso, who highlighted his political stature and educational credentials, claimed, “I’m bigger than Peter Obi politically; I’m his elder brother, I’m a PhD holder, I performed better than him when I was the governor of my state. I’ve no problem with deputising for Peter Obi, but only if certain conditions are met.”
He further expressed the possibility of engaging in meaningful discussions with Obi, noting: “We are willing to engage in discussions, provided that trust is established.”
Kwankwaso’s political journey saw him finish fourth in the last elections, securing approximately 1,496,687 votes, while Obi came in third with around 6,101,533 votes.
Despite their past disagreements, Kwankwaso criticized the current administration led by Bola Tinubu, particularly its economic policies, which he claims have exacerbated the hardship faced by Nigerians.
In response to Kwankwaso’s offer, Umar Farouk, the National Secretary of LP, expressed optimism about the collaboration, urging the former Kano governor not to undermine the merger discussions by claiming superiority in political experience or education.
He emphasized the importance of cooperation between Obi and Kwankwaso to challenge the ruling APC government effectively.
Farouk remarked, “As a political party, we stand for good governance and we have equally given all our candidates, both former and serving ones, the opportunity to choose how to associate with people of like-minds who share the philosophy and ideology of the Labour Party.
“We are happy Kwankwaso has alighted from the high horse he was riding and willing to offer himself to Obi as deputy having seen he garnered more than six million votes at the 2023 election. With his so-called popularity in the North, Kwankwaso could only amass less than two million votes.
“Again, he should stop this talk of being a bigger politician and PhD holder. What did he even do as a minister of defence? This is why we advise politicians to always consider tne dynamics of politics to gauge the temperament of the electorate at a particular time.
“Of course, we know what played out in 2023 will be different from 2027. It will be in the interest of Nigerians if Obi and Kwankwaso are willing to come together and wrest power from the APC government. But again, we know the sitting government will not go to sleep and allow the renewed move to work,” he added.
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