The New Nigeria Peoples Party has said its 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, is not contesting against President Bola Tinubu in 2027 on its platform.

The NNPP National Chairman, Dr Agbo Major made this known in a statement on Saturday.

Mr Major was speaking on the backdrop of claims by Buba Galadima that Mr Kwankwaso would stay and contest the presidency on the NNPP platform.

Mr Galadima, who claimed that there was no evidence that Mr Kwankwaso was joining the All Progressives Congress as speculated, said they would “strategically stay in the NNPP until the whistle is blown for 2027 politics,” urging Nigerians to support Mr Kwankwaso to take over as president.

Mr Major stated that the NNPP platform was closed to both Kwankwaso and Galadima, who had long been expelled from its fold for anti-party activities.

‘The NNPP had long expelled Kwankwaso and Galadima and so, they no longer speak for us, nor can they use our platform for any political contest. Our Memorandum of Understanding with the Kwankwasiya Movement, led by Kwankwaso ended shortly after the 2023 presidential election. We cannot even allow Kwankwaso for whatever reason to return to the NNPP fold because of the problems and internal wranglings he created for us.

“Kwankwaso led us into unnecessary litigation and even changed our party logo to the Kwankwasiya logo, all in an attempt to hijack the leadership of the party. It was the court’s interventions that led to INEC changing back to our logo that they submitted after a Kangaroo convention in Abuja.’’

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He said that Mr Kwankwaso must be counting on another free ticket like he got for the 2023 presidential election, but it would not happen again.

He added, “Certainly, Kwankwaso can never join any political party where he will not have the chance of leadership. Kwankwaso and his group remain expelled, and we will not readmit them because they betrayed our trust massively. He does not have the pedigree to match President Tinubu in any contest and so his ambition is dead on arrival.’’

The NNPP chairman insisted that though it’s Mr Kwankwaso’s right as a Nigerian to seek to contest any office, he should do so without getting the party involved in his antagonism against the President.

He disclosed that the NNPP was being approached by some intending aspirants and shall dwell on that at the appropriate time.

Mr Mayor stated, “Whoever will emerge as the NNPP 2027 presidential candidate will do so, following due process and constitutionality. We will no longer handover our ticket on a silver platter, and definitely not to someone who betrayed our trust and is no longer on the party.’’

He urged Nigerians to disregard utterances against the Presidency and the APC by Mr Kwankwaso and his group, claiming they were not speaking for the NNPP.

The NNPP as a party believes in constructive criticisms of issues and not against personalities or other political parties.

He added, “We advise Kwankwaso to float his own party and use it for his own agenda. NNPP has moved on and can’t be dragged into unnecessary controversies again.’’

(NAN)