Merger: NNPP Mocks Atiku, Says Proposal Medicine After Death

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has mocked the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, describing his merger proposal as emotional and medicine after death.

The party said it could only accept the proposal if Atiku would support a former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.

Osun Defender reports that Atiku, on Tuesday, while hosting the National Executive Committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, urged opposition parties to enter a merger to dislodge the APC from power.

But the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Yakubu Shendam, said any merger being considered must be to support Kwankwaso to become President, otherwise, the NNPP was not interested.

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.”

Meanwhile, the Labour Party has described Atiku’s proposal as a good one that should be considered.

The acting National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, in an interview on Wednesday, described Atiku’s call as a good preposition that should be considered by every Nigerian.

Ifoh said, “Atiku’s call is a proposition, and every Nigeria will consider a good proposition that is meant to remove the Octopus in power because they are not democrats.

“Every Nigerian is interested in having a true democracy. What we have now is far away from democracy. So, if there is a preposition by opposition elements to ensure that democracy is installed, why not? That preposition must be given a good thought. Anything that will make Nigerians witness democracy is accepted.”