“Peter Obi-Kwankwaso merger has been dead for four weeks” – Doyin Okupe reveals

The Director-General of Peter Obi Campaign Organisation, Dr Doyin Okupe has put to bed expectations of a coalition betwen the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi and the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria’s Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Noting that the merger talks have been “dead” for over four weeks, Okupe accused Kwankwaso of still trying to take advantage of Mr. Obi’s popularity.

He made this revelation while appearing on on Channels Television’s Politic Today on Tuesday.

Dr Okupe was quoted as saying: “The Labour Party and its presidential candidate has long withdrawn from that conversation.

“It was the NNPP that continued to try and benefit from the traction of Peter Obi.

“As an elder statesman, out of maturity I decided we will not take them on media-wise, so we kept quiet. But they kept going on.

“That alliance has been dead for over four weeks. I was the leader of the team that went to talk with Kwankwaso and we reached a deadlock.”

Okupe also revealed that the LP made it clear in discussions with Kwankwaso that they were not ready to back another Muslim Northerner to become president, after Muhammadu Buhari steps down in 2023.