Kwankwaso denies merger talk with Atiku

Rabiu Kwankwaso, presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has said he is not in any merger talk with Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the February 25 election.

In a statement signed by Ladipo Jhonson, spokesman of the NNPP presidential campaign council, NNPP noted that there has been no meeting between Atiku and Kwankwaso or their representatives. Neither in private nor anywhere has such a working relationship been discussed.

Atiku had disclosed in an interview with the BBC that alliance talks were ongoing.

The PDP presidential candidate had in the interview given a hint of a possible alliance with the presidential candidates of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and that of the NNPP.

But Ladipo noted that such statement was a sign of Atiku’s failing presidential bid.

He also denied that three million members of the Kwankwasiyya movement in the North East had moved to the PDP, saying it was a orchestrated moves by Atiku’s campaign to give his ailing campaign some life.

The NNPP Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson, added that Kwankwaso is not stepping down for, nor working with any of the candidates.

According to the statement,”It is apparent that Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is finishing this race stronger than other Presidential candidates especially Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.

“This is clear as the Waziri Adamawa seems to be gasping for air as his platform crumbles and is seeking a solid branch to hold on! I say this due to his unfounded and mischievous statement that he is in touch with Kwankwaso.

“This, together with the false statements on social media that 3 million members of the Kwankwasiyya movement in the North East had moved to the PDP, shows the orchestrated and nefarious moves by Atiku’s campaign to give his ailing campaign some life by passing a false and mischievous narrative to Nigerians that Kwankwaso is joining his team.

“The fact of the matter is that neither Atiku and Kwankwaso nor their representatives have met in private or at all to discuss any working relationship. They have only met during town hall meetings in the last few months!

“Nigerians will recall that earlier in the campaign the false narrative being pushed was that Kwankwaso was only strong in Kano! Now he suddenly has 3 million members leaving him in the North East?

“Finally, on behalf of the NNPP Presidential Campaign Council, I restate that Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is not stepping down for, nor is he working with any of the candidates or Atiku Abubakar. We are in this race to win and uplift the standard of living of all Nigerians.

“Opponents who have seen the ground game and the grassroots campaign of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso now understand, 24 days to the polls, that the voters at the grassroots, the average man and woman, have decided to vote for Kwankwaso and the NNPP as their party of choice”.