Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has low electoral value and can only contribute 30 per cent votes compared to the New Nigeria Peoples Party’s presidential flag bearer Rabiu Kwankwaso, says ex-House of Representatives legislator Abdulmumin Jibrin. 

“Well, very clearly, Kwankwaso will not be running mate to Peter Obi. By every standard, Kwankwaso should be the presidential aspirant. Kwankwaso has more political exposure, more experience. And at the end of the day, when you look at the equity contribution of votes, it would be a ratio of about 70 to 30 per cent,” Mr Jibrin, a chieftain of the NNPP, explained. “We are looking at Kwankwaso bringing in 70 per cent. Even if it is in business, Peter Obi knows that whoever is bringing the larger chunk of equity is expected to stay on board.” 

Mr Jibrin stated this during an interview with Channels TV on Sunday, describing Mr Kwankwaso as the “single most popular politician” in Nigeria after President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the NNPP chieftain, though Mr Obi is popular among Nigerian youths, his popularity has yet to be tested in an election.

“We are conscious of the followership among the youth. But again, we are taking that cautiously because that has not been tested in terms of electoral value,” noted Mr Jibrin. “But again, you will agree that he has massive youth followership.” 

A few days ago, the party had insisted that Mr Kwankwaso would not be a running mate to Mr Obi.

“As a mass movement, NNPP acknowledged alliance talks with Labour Party that would consolidate and boost the nation’s frail democracy as we collectively strive for a new Nigeria which the party champions. NNPP has never at any time said its esteemed presidential candidate Rabiu Musa kwankwaso could accept to be Labour Party, Peter Obi’s deputy,” the NNPP said but admitted negotiating with the Labour Party for an alliance in the 2023 presidential election.

Mr Kwankwaso, a former Kano governor, said the planned alliance was important as the APC and PDP had not fielded an Igbo vice-presidential candidate. 

He added, “We are really talking to Peter Obi, or at least saying that the committee is working to look into the matter (and cooperate with him), and friends and family are coming to talk to us about it.”