Peter Obi could’ve been my running mate – NNPP’s Kwankwaso

The 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso has said that Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, could have been his running after exiting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Kwankwaso spoke on Monday after speculations that Obi, who is now the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), was set to become his running mate.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the former governor of Kano State said, “Many people suggested that (for Peter Obi to be my running mate). I believe it could’ve been possible if not because he joined another party, and now he’s already a candidate, as we’ve seen from the news just now.

“We look forward to seeing what happens in the next few days or weeks.”

Kwankwaso added, “Actually, we had the opportunity to talk to ourselves on many national issues until a few days to the time when he declared for the Labour Party of which now he’s the presidential candidate.”

Asked if the NNPP would consider picking his running mate from the South East, Kwankwaso said, “We aren’t there yet. After the convention, the party will sit down and look around and see if we can have a very good, credible person with capacity.”

Obi had emerged as the flagbearer of the LP after some of the contenders backed out of the race.

The 60-year-old emerged after a keen contest with Olushola Emmanuel-Tella, who was the only aspirant that refused to step down.