Kwankwaso: LP not a national party — it is built on ethnicity, religion

Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), says the Labour Party (LP) is built on ethnicity and religion.

Kwankwaso said this on Wednesday at Chatham House in the United Kingdom.

The former governor of Kano also said unlike his party, LP does not have the national spread critical to winning the 2023 presidential election.

“If you have a party which is based on ethnicity and religion — that is the difference between Labour Party and our party, which is a national party, New Nigeria Peoples Party — while we are accusing leaders of being one thing or the other negative, I think the followers also must learn how to be Nigerians, and not [as someone] coming from one part of the country,” he said.

“I was one of those who initially wanted to act together with the Labour Party. Unfortunately, at that time, Labour Party was under very serious media hype and therefore they could not see reason.”

Kwankwaso’s comment comes weeks after NNPP and LP were said to be considering a coalition for the 2023 presidential election.

At the time, one talking point that dominated speculations on the possible merger was the choice of who would be presidential candidate between Kwankwaso and Obi.

However, the possibility of an alliance between the two parties soon collapsed after Kwankwaso maintained that he would not step down from contesting.