Why We Denied Obi-Kwankwaso Our Platform For 2027 Presidential Race — PRP Nat’l Chairman, Baba-Ahmed
By Akanni Toba
National Chairman of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has disclosed why the party rejected move by the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his new ally and former Kano governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to join the party to pursue their joint presidential dream in the 2027 general elections.
Baba-Ahmed stated that the duo, who have eventually defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following their failed attempt to join the fold of PRP, demanded an automatic joint presidential ticket.
The PRP national chairman spoke during an interview on a Hausa political programme on DITV Kaduna.
He said initial discussions on a possible alliance advanced to the point of setting up a joint committee before collapsing over disagreements on entry terms.
The PRP chieftain claimed that Obi and Kwankwaso expressed desires to join the PRP on the condition that they would automatically receive the party’s presidential ticket.
“We told them no, this is PRP; we do not practise that kind of politics,” the PRP chairman said.
He insisted that both politicians must first formally join the party and subject themselves to its internal democratic processes like any other aspirant.
“I told them: first come into the party. After joining, you can then tell me, I am Obi and I want to run for president,’ and ‘I am Kwankwaso and I want to be his running mate,” Baba-Ahmed said.
“But for you to come even before a decision is made and ask us to guarantee you the ticket without opposition… why fear competition?”
He said the party’s leadership acknowledged the stature and followership of both men, saying, “if anyone entered a room and saw Obi and Kwankwaso, they would think strong contenders had arrived.”
Baba-Ahmed, however, stressed that the party resisted the temptations to tinker with its constitution or jettison democratic norms to accommodate them.
He said the two politicians’ camps also demanded a significant share of party positions in exchange for the supporters they would bring in, a request, he noted, could be discussed only after they formally joined the party.
