Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwakwaso has made it clear that he has neither met nor discussed with his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opponent, Atiku Abubakar, or his representatives, on any working relationship on the 2023 presidential election.

Kwankwaso said that it clear that Atikubis now “gasping for air as his platform crumbles and is seeking a solid branch to hold on!”

In a statement today, February 1, the spokesperson of Kwankwaso/NNPP Presidential Campaign Council, Ladipo Johnson, quoted his master as saying that he is finishing the race stronger than other presidential candidates, especially Atiku of the PDP.

He said that his response was important due to the statement by Atiku that he is “in touch with Kwankwaso,” adding that the response is also key because of the false statements on social media that three million members of the Kwankwasiyya movement in the North East had moved to the PDP.

He described it as orchestrated moves by Atiku’s campaign to pass a false and mischievous narrative to Nigerians that he is joining his team.

“The fact of the matter is that neither Atiku and Kwankwaso nor their representatives have met in private or at all to discuss any working relationship.

“They have only met during town hall meetings in the last few months.

“Nigerians will recall that earlier in the campaign the false narrative being pushed was that Kwankwaso was only strong in Kano.

“He suddenly has three million members leaving him in the North East.”

He reiterated that Kwankwaso was not stepping down for, nor working with any of the candidates or Atiku Abubakar.

“We are in this race to win and uplift the standard of living of all Nigerians.

“Opponents who have seen the ground game and the grassroots campaign of Kwankwaso now understand, 24 days to the polls, that the voters at the grassroots, the average man and woman, have decided to vote for Kwankwaso and the NNPP as their party of choice.”

Source: NAN

Rivers State government has denied the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar the use of Adoki Amasiaemeka Stadium, Igwurita Ali, Ikwerre Local Government Area, as venue for presidential campaign rally, scheduled for February 11 in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Governor Nyesom Wike had a couple of weeks ago, given approval for the use of the stadium for the campaign but with a condition that it would be accessed 48 hours to the event.

In a letter dated January 31, 2023, and addressed to the Director General of Atiku campaign organisation and Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Rivers State Commissioner of Sports, Barrister Christopher Green, said that intelligence revealed that Atiku campaign organisation is collaborating with the governorship candidate of APC , Arch. Tonye Cole, to accommodate and share the approved facility for the presidential campaign.

The content of the letter reads: “refer to our letter of reference no.mos/s/409/s.49./t/15 of 11th, January , 2023 approving the use of the Adoki Amasiaemeka Stadium for your presidential campaign rally scheduled to hold on the 11th , February, 2023, credible intelligence available to Rivers State government and recent development now show that your presidential campaign organization is working in collaboration with a faction of APC and its intention of your presidential campaign organization to accommodate and share the approved facility for your campaign with the said faction of APC.

“Government record shows that the activities of the APC in Rivers State have always been marred by violence due largely to irreconcilable internal conflict within the party.”

Barrister Green said that given “credible intelligence” and to expose the stadium to any risk of being damaged, the state government had decided to withdraw the approval for its use for Atiku presidential campaign.

Efforts made by our reporter to speak with the Spokesman of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organization in Rivers State, Dr Lenu Nwibubasa, as to whether he had received the letter were unsuccessful as he did not pick calls and did not reply to text the messages sent to his line.

Source: Daily Trust.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has dismissed reports of any discussion with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over a possible alliance.

Reacting to Atiku’s allusion to the fact that talk was already ongoing for possible alliance, Peter Obi, through the spokes person of Obi-Datti campaign organization, Yunusa Tanko, said that those making the alliance claim are just trying to exploit Obi’s popularity.

“As of yesterday, before we left Numan, there was nothing of such nature. We are busy with campaigns. We are not aware of anything like an alliance.

“I think somebody is just trying to cash out on the Obi-Datti ticket. We are right now campaigning in Sokoto and we will be in Zamfara.”

Atiku had in an interview with BBC Hausa service today, February 1, said that he was in talks with Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) for possible alliance.

The former Vice President said however that he did not see the two presidential candidates as threats to his ambition.

“Although I see no threat in any of them, we are in talks, and the discussion might yield a positive result that will see one of them coming.”

Source: The PUNCH.