The 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said that a former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi cannot be his running mate because he joined the Labour Party.
Obi, who was an aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dumped the opposition, hours before the presidential primaries for the Labour Party (LP).
It was speculated that the former governor would be a running mate of the former Kano State Governor to form a formidable force against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP in the 2023 presidential elections.
But apeaking on a television programme, the former governor of Kano State said, “Many people suggested that (for Peter Obi to be my running mate). I believe it could’ve been possible if not because he joined another party, and now he’s already a candidate, as we’ve seen from the news just now.
“We look forward to seeing what happens in the next few days or weeks.”
Kwankwaso added, “Actually, we had the opportunity to talk to ourselves on many national issues until a few days to the time when he declared for the Labour Party of which now he’s the presidential candidate.”
Asked if the NNPP would consider picking his running mate from the South East, Kwankwaso said, “We aren’t there yet. After the convention, the party will sit down and look around and see if we can have a very good, credible person with capacity.”
Meanwhile, Obi has emerged as the flagbearer of the LP after some of the contenders backed out of the race.
The 60-year-old emerged after a keen contest with Olushola Emmanuel-Tella, who was the only aspirant that refused to step down.
