The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has explained why efforts by Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to join the party did not materialize.
Baba-Ahmed said talks between the PRP and the two politicians took place, but negotiations broke down after disagreements over conditions attached to their proposed entry.
There had been speculation that Obi and Kwankwaso would leave the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the PRP, but both later chose to join the New Nigeria Peoples Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to Baba-Ahmed, the decisive sticking point was a demand that each be guaranteed the party’s presidential ticket without facing internal competition. “They came and said they wanted to join the PRP, but when we sat down and discussed with them, there were certain demands they made,” he said.
“They told us that they were the presidential candidates, meaning they should be given the ticket. We told them no, this is PRP; we do not practice that kind of politics,” he added. He said the proper process is to join the party first and then declare one’s intention to run: “First come into the party. After joining, you can then tell me, ‘I am Obi, and I want to run for President,’ and ‘I am Kwankwaso, and I want to be his running mate’.”
Baba-Ahmed questioned why candidates confident of their strength would seek exemption from competition: “But for you to come even before a decision is made and ask us to guarantee you the ticket without opposition — if you are truly strong contenders, then why fear competition?”
