The 2023 Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has categorically denied allegations of a secret pact involving himself, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) for a rotational presidency arrangement.
In an interview with BBC Hausa on Monday, Kwankwaso dismissed reports of an alliance purportedly being formed in preparation for the 2027 elections.
He stressed that he has not been in communication with either Atiku or Obi and has adopted a stance of neutrality, focusing on governance until the end of the year.
Kwankwaso expressed frustration over the spread of misinformation, saying, “I heard from a source that the PDP brought in about 45 scholars and claimed there was a consensus for Atiku to rule for four years, I would rule for another four years, and Peter Obi for eight years. This is a complete lie and has no basis in reality.”
He criticized elder statesmen in the PDP for allegedly deceiving intellectuals and destabilizing the party, noting that such dishonesty was one of the reasons he, Peter Obi, and others left the party.
Kwankwaso accused the PDP of using manipulative tactics to secure northern votes without addressing the region’s needs. “What have they done for the North? We loved the PDP and wanted to reform it for progress, but they forced us out.
I left, Peter Obi left, Wike left, and many others left. Now they want to return with the same mindset,” he said.
Reiterating his stance, Kwankwaso emphasized that any future political arrangements must address historical grievances and prioritize genuine development over regional manipulation.
He concluded by urging the current Federal and State governments to focus on governance without interference from political speculations.