The vice presidential candidate for the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, and senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, announced yesterday that negotiations to field a combined ticket for the 2023 presidential election are still ongoing.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, aren’t the only political parties in Nigeria, according to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State.

In a video broadcast by AIT on Tuesday, Obaseki stated that many Nigerians no longer support the APC or PDP and have instead become “Obidients,” which he claimed was the reason the PDP lost the most recent governorship election in Ekiti.

People who back Labour Party, LP presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi refer to themselves as “Obidients.”

Obaseki contends that the PDP, which finished third in the governor of Ekiti race, needs to find a means to pique Nigerians’ interest.

“How can PDP, the party, not win,” he asked. They weren’t even ranked second. So it’s clear that something is happening, and we don’t want it to become a pattern. Politics in our country are evolving and will continue to do so. I’m not sure if you’re paying careful attention to what’s happening or how disenchanted the parties are with each other. There are undoubtedly numerous “Obidients” living in each of our homes today.

“I don’t know whether you have them in your house. Just ask them, ‘which party are you?’ They say ‘Obidients.’ You understand? They do not want us; they are not talking about PDP or APC. They are looking for alternatives and they are many. You see all of them queuing for their PVCs (Permanent Voters Cards) now. They are not looking at the direction of PDP or APC now. They are looking for alternatives.

“If we do not curb this, if we do not make our party attractive, I do not know what will happen in the next elections.”

Abure, Okupe, Yinusa Tanko

The LP Vice Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and his New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP counterpart, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, are still in talks to field a joint ticket for the 2023 presidential election, according to Obaseki, who spoke on behalf of party leaders and the LP Vice Presidential Candidate.

Separate interviews with Vanguard were conducted with the LP National Chairman, Mr. Julius Abure; the spokesman, Dr. Yinusa Tanko; and Okupe, who all stated that both parties are still debating the idea of establishing a massive alliance to win the 2023 presidential election.

Abure revealed that a giant alliance is the goal and stated that both parties are “consulting widely to make the partnership a tremendous success.”

On Monday, Abure petitioned the INEC to prolong the existing voter registration process through June 30 in accordance with a ruling from the Abuja Federal High Court. It is in charge of seeing to it that each adult receives a PVC (permanent voters’ card).

Many people did not believe that voting was necessary prior to Mr. Peter Obi being a presidential contender. The political climate was one of despair and pessimism. People now have hope and understand the necessity of obtaining the PVC thanks to Obi’s ascent. The INEC must see to it that these large numbers of individuals receive their PVCs.

Dr. Okupe, who insisted that the discussions and conversations are ongoing, claimed that while the Labour Party and NNPP have agreed to create a new political system in the nation, they have not yet agreed on which party will nominate a presidential candidate. He claims that negotiations are underway between the two parties to replace candidates before the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) deadline of July 17.

He said: “We have not foreclosed on anything. What has happened is that there have been a lot of informal discussions and interventions on the merger. There have been a lot of third party interventions on this same issue.

“Officially, I have been involved in two meetings in two different locations where we discussed extensively. I can tell you authoritatively that I have spoken with Rabiu Kwankwaso on this matter.

“We have agreed to cooperate together as two different parties to enthrone a new political order in this country. We also agreed on working together politically and to constitute a platform on which a national grand alliance can be built in pursuit of the same goal.

“We have not reached an agreement on the issue of whether the North will be the president or the South will be the president because both sides are insisting on being the arrowhead of the union in terms of presidency. This is where we have not really agreed. As of today, that is where we stand but there are a lot of goodwill ambassadors working behind the scene.

“The choices are still available. The alternatives are still open, but we have until around July 17 to make a decision. Nothing has been foreclosed upon by us.

When asked about the NNPP’s claim that Kwankwaso had declined to serve as Obi’s running mate, he responded, “I am surprised about it and I have attempted to reach out. It is a little too soon for that. We are speaking both formally and informally and have direct access. Although I heard the information, I was unable to verify it.

Yinusa Tanko —Obi, Kwankwaso will decide on flagbearer 

The National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Dr. Yinusa Tanko, informed Vanguard that discussions between the LP and NNPP are still underway. We now understand that none of us can accomplish this on our own. On the fundamental tenet that we would collaborate, we have come to an understanding. The All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, must be defeated for the alliance to save the nation. “Mr. Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso will select who would be the presidential candidate or vice presidential candidate.”