Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a renowned northern figure and the National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), has disclosed that former presidential candidate Peter Obi and the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, left his party because their requests were not granted, news.ng reports.
According to Baba-Ahmed, who appeared on Channels Television on Sunday evening, Obi and Kwankwaso wanted guaranteed slots as the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the party.
“They had issues about whether the party can guarantee that they emerge as presidential and vice-presidential candidates. They had questions about whether we could guarantee that huge numbers of places can be made available to them because they are coming in with movements into our party.”
He added that the two political figures who left the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were concerned about the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not recognizing the new leadership of the party, which could pose a threat to the party by creating a leadership crisis in the future, following what they encountered in the ADC before they left.
“They also had issues with the fact that INEC deliberately refused to upload our new executive, meaning me and my colleagues, for a long time. And I think they were right there that it represented some worry that we had a problem with INEC. So, they moved on,” Baba-Ahmed added.
Despite the political disagreement, the PRP chairman said he still maintains a healthy relationship with Obi and Kwankwaso.
“Well, we’re still friends. We’re allied. We work together because I believe that somewhere along the line, all the parties eventually have to pull our energies and resources together.”
When asked if his party would go into a coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, he affirmed that he would welcome the idea.
He also dismissed the perception that the PRP is in alliance with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is a leading figure in the ADC and allegedly working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“A coalition, some kind of alliance, something that should give this country a new lease of life by defeating the APC, yes.”
“The people also said that we are working for Tinubu. Can you believe this? Are you for me?…”, he added.
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