Taofeek Lawal – Abuja
The Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the February 25, 2023 election, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has predicted that the party is for the future based on the popularity it enjoyed among Nigerians during the general elections.
He said NNPP’s commitment to democratic ethos, its integrity within the short time it has come into the democratic space and hard work on the part of members have put the party at the forefront of party politics in Nigeria.
Kwankwaso stated this at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party which was held in Abuja on Thursday. According to the two-time Kano State governor, NNPP has come to challenge the dominance of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the PDP which have had their ways in piloting the affairs of Nigeria since the return of democracy in 1999.
“Considering the fact that we joined this party barely one year ago and the performance we have seen, I believe we should all congratulate ourselves. We have done well. And what is even more important is that everybody now believes that the NNPP is the party for the future.
“During and after this election, I had the reason to talk to so many people on the telephone, some visited me to say that now they have seen the light and before 2027, they are going to join our party, the NNPP.
“The challenge of time is very critical because this is the first time in the history of this country that we have a party, especially after the establishment of the two parties across the country that we have a party within the shortest possible time has this sort of popularity based of course on integrity, hard work, commitment and love for this country. This is the time to congratulate ourselves and also tighten our belt to go back to our constituencies and work much harder.”
He said the party will in the next four years work on how it can get more members into its fold to bring democratic dividends to Nigerians. He however frowned at how the party’s logo was messed up by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through poor printing and called on the electoral body to improve the quality of its printing as it prepares for governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states later in the year.
“I also believe now that we have good four years to strategise and of course to reposition the party so that more people are being accommodated as members and of course the leadership at various levels of the party and even the candidates in terms of numbers, in terms of quality so that Nigerians can have an opportunity to have the positive change that our party, the NNPP, stands for.
“We are happy with the security agents going by what we have seen in Kano and other parts of the country even though in Kano we had a peculiar situation where a particular arm of the security was bitterly against our party. But despite all that by the grace of God, we were able to win most of our elections. This is an opportunity to say that we are not happy with the way and manner our logo was presented on our ballot papers.
“It was so bad that the international observers led by former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, could not relate to the logo or what it means. I know that under a free and fair election, NNPP could have done so much more than what we have seen. My advice to my colleagues and friends in politics is please go softly, try and be popular, try and earn the support of your people,” Kwankwaso who also doubles as the national leader said.
In his address at the event, NNPP national chairman Professor Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali called on elected candidates from Kano Governor-elect, Abba Kabir Yusuf, National and State Houses of Assembly candidates to be good ambassadors of the party by “upholding the vision, mission and core values of our party at your various levels of leadership.”
He added that though the 2023 election has come and gone, it left behind a trail of anger, bitterness and uncertainty with many unanswered questions agitating for answers.
He nonetheless called on INEC to redouble its efforts and reestablish the confidence of Nigerians in the electoral process as it prepares for the off-season governorship polls in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states in November this year.
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