Presidential poll: Obi, Kwankwaso’s negotiations dead, says Okupe

 Presidential poll: Obi, Kwankwaso’s negotiations dead, says Okupe

Kwakwaso And Peter Obi

The planned coalition between the Labour Party and the New Nigerian People's Party for the 2023 general election has been declared "dead," according to Dr. Doyin Okupe, Director-General of the Obi Presidential Campaign Organization.

The proposal, according to Okupe, who serves as Peter Obi's de facto running partner for the LP presidential nomination and former governor of Anambra State, has been dead for almost four weeks.

The LP had intended to form a coalition with the NNPP, with Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the latter party's presidential candidate, running on the same platform as Obi.

On Tuesday night, Okupe revealed during an appearance on Channels Television's Politics Today that the negotiation stalled when the LP side questioned the election of a second Muslim northerner succeeding the president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

Senator Ditti Baba-Ahmed is reportedly being considered as the LP's vice presidential candidate, according to Okupe, who added that "others are being evaluated." This week, these issues will be resolved. Along with other persons with whom we have spoken and interacted, he is being taken into consideration.

The emphasis is on the fact that we are seeking a young, energetic politician of northern descent with some intelligence, a respectable background, pedigree, and education. What we are examining is that.

Okupe questioned how seniority is determined in politics regarding the alliance between the LP and NNPP, with Kwankwaso being rated as senior to Obi to be the presidential and vice-presidential candidates, respectively.

Okupe also criticized Kwankwaso for saying that voters in the north would not support a candidate from the South-East for president.