The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have traded accusations over an alleged plot to collapse the NNPP into the opposition coalition to support a Peter Obi-Rabiu Kwankwaso presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election.
The latest exchange follows renewed speculation about a possible alliance involving Obi and Kwankwaso, which the NNPP has consistently denied.
Speaking in an interview, NNPP National Chairman, Major Agbo, accused the party’s former leadership of attempting to merge its structure into what he described as the “Obi-Kwankwaso arrangement” under the NDC.
According to Agbo, the former leadership, headed by immediate past National Chairman Bala Yusuf, intended to collapse the party in support of Kwankwaso before the current leadership took over.
“He lied. They would have eventually collapsed the entire structure into their principal’s arrangement. That’s the level of greed that is in them,” Agbo said.
He maintained that the NNPP’s decision to field a placeholder presidential candidate was solely to comply with electoral timelines and not an indication of any alliance with the NDC or the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Agbo also ruled out any future political relationship with Kwankwaso, insisting the party would not work with the former Kano State governor or his political associates.
He, however, said the NNPP remains open to alliances with parties or candidates whose vision aligns with its manifesto and constitution.
According to him, the party will replace its placeholder candidate with a stronger contender once the substitution window opens.
The controversy comes after the NNPP lost several key figures in recent months, including Kwankwaso and former National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson, to the NDC. The party also lost its only elected governor, Abba Yusuf of Kano State, and several political appointees to the All Progressives Congress.
Responding to the allegations, NDC Deputy National Publicity Secretary Abdulmumin Abdulsalam dismissed the claims, insisting the coalition had no agreement or political arrangement with the NNPP.
“We have no pact with the NNPP or any party, especially in the local political landscape of Kano State. The NDC is a moving train and the momentum we have at the moment is enough for us,” he said.
Abdulsalam argued that the NNPP, having lost many of its prominent members, would be the one seeking political relevance through alliances rather than the NDC.
He added that Kwankwaso had moved on from the NNPP and had no reason to return to the party, describing it as “an old cloth” that had outlived its usefulness.
The exchange marks the latest disagreement between both parties as political alignments and coalition talks continue to gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.
