The National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Prof. Rufai Alkali, has denied any move to collapse the party’s structure for the All Progressive Congress presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu or any political party ahead of the 2023 election.
Alkali said the NNPP was not ready to surrender its legitimacy as a duly registered political party to any other party.
He stated this while reacting to speculations that the supporters of its presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, were in talks with Tinubu.
Addressing journalists in Lagos, Alkali said the room for mergers among political parties had already closed.
The NNPP Chairman cited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 2023 elections rules and guidelines.
Speaking about the recent defection of former Kano State governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, he said the party respects his decision, but “we will not allow ourselves to be dragged into any controversy.”
Alkali insisted that the NNPP remained a veritable alternative for the APC and PDP.
He noted that any alliance with any political parties would be based on equal partnership.