We’re Not In Merger Talks With PDP – LP, NNPP Say

Two major opposition political parties, namely the Labour Party (LP), and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), have denied any merger talks taking place between them and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The parties specifically said they were not approached by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2023, Atiku Abubakar, or any of his loyalists regarding a any merger contrary to insinuations in the media since last week.

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, had announced on a live television programme that the three leaders pf the leading opposition political parties in the country were discussing the possibility of a merger to salvage Nigerians from hunger and insecurity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Abdullahi pointedly said that the trio of Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, were willing to set aside their personal ambition and differences to form a formidable alliance to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress in the next election.

Abdullahi’s position was re-echoed by Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, who said the 2023 presidential candidate of the PDP had been consistent in his call for a merger or a potential alliance to rescue the country from total collapse.

Ibe said; “Atiku has been consistent about an alliance of the opposition. His position has become more pertinent than ever because Nigeria, as it is currently under Tinubu’s administration, is on life support.

“We have had failings of trial and error policies. Hunger is the order of the day even among his supporters. Nobody is happy about the current situation. So, that alliance has not changed. We need to put efforts together for the sake of Nigeria and Nigerians to recover the country from these wayfarers.

“I am talking about Tinubu and his cabinet. That is what it is all about. They are people who have come to loot and put people in perpetual hunger. At the moment, poverty is rife. Food inflation is 40 per cent and insecurity is on the rise. The other day, we heard about scores of people killed in Yobe and other places.

“So every well-meaning leader, especially those in opposition, understands the need to come together to rescue Nigeria and plot a pathway to recover the country from economic malfunction.”

When asked if Atiku has opened a channel of communication with the candidates in question, Ibe explained that such an important discussion was not deliberated on the pages of newspapers.

He said; “I will not speak for the other (opposition) leaders. They are capable of speaking for themselves. But as I earlier said, Alhaji Atiku has been consistent and remains consistent in the alliance. I know that is a clarion call for them to come together under an umbrella. It has resonated well with other leaders and discussions are ongoing.

“Make no mistake, the talks are not something that will be conducted on the pages of newspapers. Even when you are wooing a woman that you want to marry, there is a process involved.

“So, what is going on now is that process that will inevitably lead to alliance among the other opposition,” he stressed.

However, spokesman for the Labour Party’s presidential campaign organisation, Dr Tanko Yunusa, and the National Publicity Secretary of NNPP, Mr Ladipo Johnson, denied knowledge of any merger talks with the PDP.

This was as the senator representing Anambra Central, Senator Victor Umeh cautioned Peter Obi against dump the Labour Party in the race for the 2027 presidential contest, stressing that those wooing the LP presidential candidate are merely pushing him to go on a wild goose chase.

Speaking on the matter, the spokesman of the Obi campaign Organisation, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, expressed doubt over the merger talks, saying that Mr Peter Obi would rather focus on consolidating his political base than be distracted by talks of a merger with major opposition candidates.

Yunusa said that such talks are coming up now because political permutations have begun and the stakes for the 2027 presidential election are high.

Also speaking, the NNPP spokesman, Johnson, said that no channel of communication with regards to the merger process had been opened between the Party’s leadership and the PDP.

Johnson categorically said that a process must be in place before such a marriage of convenience can take place, adding however that he is aware that several people on various occasions have spoken about a possible merger.

In his words; “However, I am not aware of any opening of communication channels to discuss the matter officially. As I always say, we are currently seeking to grow the base of our party.

“We are not saying outright that we shall not work with, merge or marry anyone to wrest power from the ruling party. At the moment, we are busy with our internal affairs. At the right time, we may take a closer look at things if we are approached by anyone. But officially, nothing like merger talks is going on at the moment,” he said.

This was as the presidential candidate of the NNPP in the 2023 election, Rabiu Kwankwaso on Saturday declared that the PDP was dead and can no longer be resuscitated.

Kwankwaso, who stated this at the inauguration of NNPP’s renovated party office in Katsina State, said that the PDP ‘died’ the day he and his followers dumped it.