Buba Galadima, chieftain of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), has debunked reports that the party’s presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso and the candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi are planning to merge.

Galadima during an interview on Arise TV said what Kwankwaso and Obi are discussing is an electoral alliance.

He further stated that all issues have been sorted, except one, which is who will be the presidential candidate and the running mate.

He said, “We are not discussing a merger with the Labour Party. What we are discussing is an electoral alliance between the candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party and the candidate of the Labour Party.

“I chaired the negotiation for 13 good hours and we have an understanding of almost all the issues raised except one – which is who should be the presidential candidate, and who should deputize for him.”

The elder statesman said the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar would win more votes in the north if Kwankwaso agrees to be Obi’s vice.

Galadima further stated, “If Kwankwaso deputizes Peter Obi, it is not the ticket of Peter Obi that will gain currency, it is Atiku that will benefit because as far as we are concerned if Kwankwaso steps down to be vice president, the people from this part of the country are likely to vote one of their own who is running as president.

“If Peter Obi is vice president to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, he doesn’t lose his followership because that could’ve been the best position that people of South-East extraction could’ve gotten in this 2023 election. They are out in the PDP, they are out in the APC, but having a vice president with a promise and viability of becoming president after Kwankwaso would now make them self-satisfied.”