The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) says Atiku Abubakar, Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Should shelve his presidential ambition for Rabiu Kwankwaso, its presidential candidate.
NNPP said Atiku should pull out of the presidential race for Kwankwaso to have a chance to win in the upcoming election.
This was disclosed in a media briefing by NNPP national chairman, Rufa’i Alkali, in Abuja on Wednesday.
NNPP was reacting to the claims that Atiku was in talks with the party’s presidential candidate to step down for him.
It was reported that the PDP presidential candidate had said in an interview on Tuesday that he has met with Kwankwaso and Labour Party’s Peter Obi with a view to getting them to support his ambition in the February 25 election.
Atiku who spoke in an interview with the BBC Hausa service said both Obi and Kwankwaso are not a threat to his chances of winning at the Feb.25 poll.
“Although, I see no threat in any of them but we are in talks, and the discussion might yield a positive result that will see one of them coming,” Atiku said.
But reacting to the claim, the National Chairman of NNPP, Prof. Rufai Alkali, said the party was not in alliance talk with the PDP and its candidate will not step down because of so many reasons which include competence, capacity, vibrancy, articulation and acceptability.
“We have been inundated with calls from across the country. We have no engagement with Atiku Abubakar on any level,” he said.
“Rabiu Kwankwaso is one person that has justified his position as a forerunner in this election. Atiku should not go so low to impose himself on Nigerians.
“What will someone want to offer in northern Nigeria, if not Kwankwaso — since they are talking about northern Nigeria now? The NNPP fully dissociates itself from the antics of Atiku Abubakar. We want Atiku Abubakar to step down for Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
“It will be a great mistake and tragedy to allow APC to continue with governance in Nigeria. If people are in doubt, let them go and think again.
“It is also a tragedy to allow some of these people who caused most of these problems to come back again. The parties have taken their presidential candidates to court – this is what we have called mutually assured destruction.”
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