The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) says former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso did not join the party because they were unable to secure assurances over presidential ticket allocation and had concerns about internal party structure and electoral recognition.
PRP National Chairman Hakeem Baba-Ahmed made the disclosure during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, explaining that negotiations with both political figures stalled over key structural and political conditions.
According to him, both politicians were concerned about whether the PRP could guarantee them automatic emergence as presidential and vice-presidential candidates, as well as the ability to accommodate their political movements within the party structure.
“They had issues about whether the party can guarantee that they emerge as presidential and vice presidential candidates,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He also noted that concerns were raised over delays by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in recognising the party’s national executive leadership, a development he said created uncertainty during discussions.
“They also had issues with the fact that INEC deliberately refused to upload our new executive… I think they were right there that it represented some worry that we had a problem with INEC,” he added.
Obi and Kwankwaso, who were major contenders in the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party and New Nigeria Peoples Party respectively, have since aligned with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) after briefly engaging with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition.
In the 2023 elections, Peter Obi secured about 6.1 million votes, while Rabiu Kwankwaso polled approximately 1.1 million votes.
Obi previously explained his departure from the ADC coalition, saying it was driven by political conditions rather than personal disagreements with its leadership, including Senator David Mark and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Kwankwaso, on his part, described the move to the NDC as an effort to provide a more stable platform for supporters and promote good governance and democratic values.
Despite missing out on bringing the high-profile politicians into its ranks, Baba-Ahmed said the PRP still believes in future collaboration among opposition parties to strengthen Nigeria’s political landscape.
“We will work together… all the parties eventually have to pull their energies and resources together,” he said.
