Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPC), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, yesterday, raised hope on the possibility of teaming up with his Labour Party counterpart, Mr Peter Obi, to contest the 2023 general elections.Kwankwaso spoke on a day Peter Obi was said to be considering a young northerner as his running mate for the 2023 election.
Speaking on the potential coalition with Peter Obi in an interview with the BBC Hausa, yesterday, Kwankwaso said: “Yes, we are discussing with Peter Obi,or I will rather say a committee is working to see all that is necessary on teaming up with him, and our friends and relations have been coming to talk to us over the issue.
”The former governor of Kano State explained that their teaming up is important,looking at the fact that the APC and PDP did not pick their vice presidential candidates from the Igbo.
But Okupe, who is also the Director General of Peter Obi’s Presidential Campaign organisation, spoke on a television programme in Lagos at the weekend, saying the ultimate goal of his principal was to find a way to bring the dream and aspiration of handing over power to young Nigerians.
“We are considering someone much less in age to Obi and of northern descent as the running mate to Peter Obi ahead of the 2023 presidential election”, he added.
The former presidential aide to Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan confirmed that he was just a placeholder until the ongoing consultations and coalition in the LP were concluded.
When asked about the Christian-Christian ticket affecting Obi’s chances, Okupe said, “Nigerian youths must move closer to the Labour Party because we are prepared to make any sacrifice to have them take back the country.
We are willing to make ourselves available at any cost so that Nigerian youths can ride on our backs to power and that includes the position of the vice president.
“The choice of Okupe as VP candidate is in consonance with the Nigerian Constitution and Electoral Act.
Our ultimate goal is to find a way to bring our dream and aspiration of handing over power to young Nigerians.
We are considering someone much less in age than Obi and of northern descent.
“We are also considering so many things like a coalition with the third force, we need NNPP, SDP and everybody.”
