Victor Umeh, a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has said that the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) broke up their alliance negotiations more than three weeks ago.
On Tuesday, Umeh clearly stated that the coalition discussions fell down on June 15 because both parties could not agree on some points during an appearance on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television program.
Umeh claimed that the LP has ended further talks with the NNPP because the two parties were unable to agree on who would become their presidential candidate and running partner.
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The presidential candidate of the NNPP, Rabiu Kwankwaso, came under fire from the LP senatorial candidate for suggesting that negotiations between the two parties were still ongoing.
Umeh stated that the LP Presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, cannot step down to deputise Kwankwaso because it would be injurious to his reputation and political career.
He said: “We are surprised at the recent media blaze by the members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to continuously suggest that they were locked in a negotiation with the Labour Party to have a partnership or arrangement where the two parties will work together in 2023,” he said.
“We are surprised to continuously see this, we had this discussion precisely on the 15th of June, more than three weeks ago. What necessitated the meeting was that the NNPP and LP working together will give a better opportunity for the presidential election to be won. And the two parties set up two teams.
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“Myself, Julius Aboreh, the Labour Party chairman who led our team; Doyin Okupe went to that discussion on behalf of the Labour Party; while the NNPP put forward Buba Galadima, Abdullahi Baffa, former Executive Secretary of TETFUND, and Ladipo Johnson.
“It was a three-man team; we met for long hours, adjourned and we came back. When it became obvious that it had become a dialogue between a deaf and dumb person we called off the negotiation.
“It was on the 15th of June that the whole talks collapsed completely. The Labour Party has averted its mind from every other discussion with the NNPP.
“But these fellows have continued to give the impression that they are still in talks with the Labour Party. We couldn’t agree on the knotty issue of who becomes the presidential candidate. Will it be Peter Obi of the LP or Rabiu Kwankwaso?
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“What they are saying is not in tune with the reality of things. If Peter Obi, who is being sought after, stepped down to deputise Kwankwaso, it would have been injurious to his reputation.”
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