LP supports Atiku’s merger proposal, NNPP gives condition

The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) 2023 presidential contender Atiku Abubakar’s merger plan has been deemed a good idea worthy of consideration by the Labour Party.

The plan, however, was only acceptable to the New Nigeria People’s Party if Atiku backed Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, in his bid to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.

The main opposition parties were responding to Atiku’s suggestion on Tuesday that they combine forces in order to unseat the APC.

While hosting the National Executive Committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, Atiku reportedly proposed a merger.
The chance of Nigeria devolving into a one-party state was cautioned against by the former vice president.

“As everyone has witnessed, the APC is steadily transforming Nigeria into a one-party dictatorship,” he stated. Our democracy will suffer and the effects will be felt by future generations if we do not band together to oppose the policies that the ruling party is attempting to implement.

In an exclusive interview on Wednesday, Obiora Ifoh, the acting National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, characterized Atiku’s call as a commendable proposition that every Nigerian ought to contemplate.
“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,” Ifoh declared.

“Having a real democracy is something that every Nigerian wants.” Democracy is not at all what we now have. Therefore, why not, given the opposition’s proposition to guarantee the installation of democracy? We need to think carefully about that preposition. Anything that will allow Nigerians to experience democracy is acceptable.
However, the NNPP characterized Atiku’s call as sentimental and post-mortem medicine.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yakubu Shendam, stated that the NNPP was not interested in any merger until it would help Kwankwaso win the presidency.

“This is like medicine after death,” remarked Shendam. Should a future collaboration arise, it ought not to stem from sentimental factors. We have a gladiator that is capable of taking over Nigeria, which is why we are continuing.

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In order to win the election, we think it is necessary to rally support from all sides of the political spectrum. But we think Kwankwaso can take Nigeria to new heights by himself in 2027.

That being said, it doesn’t mean we’re not still searching for players to join our team, such as Atiku. In the event of a merger, it ought to be with the NNPP, since Atiku ought to back Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso as he is currently retiring.
“As a party, we feel comfortable having someone like Rabiu Kwankwaso as our national leader, but we don’t want to band together with people who are upset.” In order to be relevant in 2027, we are urging Atiku to unite with Kwankwaso as an elder brother.

Atiku’s demand for opposition parties to unite against the ruling party, however, did not stir or threaten the ruling APC, according to the party.

“How and why should we (be threatened)?” questioned Bala Ibrahim, the APC’s director of publicity. Both the public and the legal system have denigrated Atiku. What kind of resources does Atiku and his party possess to make the ruling party feel threatened?

“From Nigeria’s perspective, the PDP holds minimal significance. The ruling party, especially a progressive one, is not something that Atiku and the PDP can terrorize into submission.