Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), warned Nigerians on Wednesday not to play religion or ethnicity politics in the upcoming 2023 general elections.
The former Kano State Governor made the announcement today during a meeting with the South West Development Stakeholders Forum in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Kwankwaso, who expressed confidence in defeating his counterparts from other parties in the election, urged Nigerians to vote for candidates with capacity rather than those who play the ethnic card.
He said;
Nigerians should not play politics of ethnicity and religion, vote only credible and competent leaders.
Some people don’t even understand the realities on the ground today. Every Nigerian is looking for a way out. Nobody is waiting for a neighbour or any leader to say this is the way.
Any party or candidate that comes out in the face of ethnicity or with the issue of religion, that party or candidate at the national level has failed in the election even before it starts.
Peter Obi Speaks on Talks With Atiku, Possible Alliance Against APC
Meanwhile, Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi has denied reports of talks with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar about a possible alliance.
Atiku stated earlier in an interview with BBC Hausa that he is in talks with Obi, adding that it is possible that he (Obi) will step down his presidential ambition for him.
The former Vice President has stated that the NNPP presidential candidates, Kwankwaso and Obi, do not pose a threat 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,” Atiku told the interviewer.
However, speaking for Peter Obi on Wednesday, the Obi-Datti campaign organization spokesperson, Yunusa Tanko, said those making the alliance claim are just trying to exploit Obi’s popularity.
He told The PUNCH that;
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.
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