The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has revealed why discussions involving former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso failed ahead of preparations for the 2027 general election.
Speaking during a Hausa political programme on DITV Kaduna, Baba-Ahmed said negotiations between the PRP and the two politicians collapsed over disagreements surrounding conditions for joining the party.
According to him, Obi and Kwankwaso approached the PRP for possible collaboration, and discussions advanced to the stage where a committee was proposed to continue negotiations.
“They came and said they wanted to join the PRP, but when we sat down and discussed with them, there were certain demands they made,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He disclosed that one of the key issues raised during the talks was the request by both politicians to secure the party’s presidential ticket without internal contest.
“Before they joined, they told us that they were the presidential candidates, meaning they should be given the ticket. We told them no, this is PRP; we do not practice that kind of politics,” he stated.
The PRP chairman explained that the party insisted both politicians must first become members and follow established internal democratic procedures before seeking any elective office.
“I told them, first, come into the party. After joining, you can then tell me, ‘I am Obi and I want to run for President,’ and ‘I am Kwankwaso and I want to be his running mate,’” he said.
“But for you to come even before a decision is made and ask us to guarantee you the ticket without opposition. If you are truly strong contenders, then why fear competition?”
Baba-Ahmed acknowledged the political strength and popularity of both Obi and Kwankwaso but maintained that the PRP could not compromise its constitution or internal democratic principles.
“We believed that if anyone entered a room and saw Obi and Kwankwaso, they would think strong contenders had arrived. But we cannot break our party’s rules,” he added.
He further disclosed that the camps of the two politicians also requested a significant number of party positions in anticipation of bringing large numbers of supporters into the PRP.
“They requested that many positions be given to them because they said they had many supporters. We told them this was not a problem, come into the party first, then we can sit down and discuss,” Baba-Ahmed stated.
The comments come amid growing political realignments and coalition discussions among opposition figures ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
