National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali said at the weekend that the current debate about the single faith ticket for the presidential ticket was a mere distraction from the main issue that should shape the  forthcoming general election.

Alkali also said that the NNPP’s alliance talk with the Labour Party collapsed as a result of the insistence of the Labour Party that its presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwaankwnso must step down for its candidate, Peter Obi.

Speaking at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, Prof. Alkali said rather than engage in discussing the religious background of those contesting the 2023 presidential election, Nigerians should be asking question about what the candidates and their parties have done for the country in the past

He said “this discussion about single faith ticket is a distraction from the main issues. It is unnecessary and intended to confuse Nigerians. We have had different faith leaders leading this country. Have they done better?

“The NNPP is an inclusive party and we believe that no section of this country should be left behind. Whatever choice other parties make is their business. We are not an extension of the APC.”

Speaking on the collapsed alliance talk between the NNPP and the Labour Party, Prof. Alkali said the initial discussion for alliance was held between a technical committee of three members each from the two parties, adding that the discussion was supposed to centre on how to forge the alliance around all elective offices.

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He said the discussion never got to the party level as the Labour Party team came to the discussion with only one agenda to get Kwankwaso to step down from the presidential race for Peter Obi.

According to him, the technical team was supposed to discuss and agree on certain things before the parties will step in to formalise the agreement, adding “but immediately talks started, they went public on the social media to talk about merger. We know that what was possible at that time was only an alliance.

“We never said anything. But they were all over the media. They had only one agenda which was to have the presidency and to get our leader to step down. So, nothing else was discussed. Who will benefit from such an arrangement? What will be the benefits?

“Some of them said, yes we know that Kwankwaso is popular and has followers and wide support. But it is the turn of the Southeast. When the process was stalled, they were the ones that went to town again to announce that the process had deadlocked. We did not say anything because we believe that when a process is stalled, it can still resume.

“I have had a course to work with Peter Obi. I know he is an achiever. But the discussion process was never given the opportunity to mature. NNPP as a party never said anything before, during and after the process.”

On what led to the exit of former Kano State governor, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau from the party, Alkali said the party was yet to receive an official communication from the former governor, saying the former governor must have his reasons for leaving the party.

He said the party is not unaware of the fact that Senator Shekarau is a highly respected Nigerian with followers, adding that the NNPP will not engage in what he called unnecessary controversy about his exit from the party.

 He said while the party awaits an official communication from Senator Shekarau, it will review the situation leading to his exit before taking a decision.

On claims by some interest groups that the presidency should be allowed to go to the south, the NNPP National Chairman said everyone desirous to contest any election should be free to do so, adding that even though President Muhammadu Buhari is from the same North West as its presidential candidate, Kwankwaso was not a member of the APC.

He said the party has what it takes to win the 2023 Presidential election as Nigerians were now wiser and will reject money politics.

On allegations that Senator Kwankwaso may be working for the APC candidate, he said such claims were propaganda being spread by the APC, insisting that the ruling party must be prepared to explain to Nigerians what it did with the economy in its eight years in office.