2023 Presidency: NNPP Speaks On Endorsing Tinubu

The Osun State chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has denied reports claiming the party has endorsed the candidacy of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for the 2023 presidential election.

The denial was made on Saturday by the Caretaker Chairman of the party in Osun State, Alhaji Abdussalam Abdullateef.

He stressed that the only presidential candidate known and supported by the NNPP is former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Abdullateef explained further that four members of the NNPP, who reportedly endorsed Tinubu, were not speaking on behalf of the party as they are “on their own.”

Top NNPP Chieftains Dump Kwankwaso, Back Tinubu

Naija News recalls the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Osun chapter on Wednesday, lost two senatorial candidates and two House of Representatives candidates after they dumped the party, declaring their support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima as their preferred presidential candidates.

The candidates who declared their support for Tinubu are; Osun Central Senatorial candidate, Kola Bamgbola; Osun West Senatorial candidate, Mayowa Akinyode, candidate for Boluwaduro /Ifedayo/Ila Federal Constituency, Elijah Fabayo and candidate for Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Babatunde Ajayi.

Speaking on behalf of other candidates who were physically present at NUJ press center, Osogbo, Osun Central candidate, Bamgbola said the decision to back the APC presidential candidate stems from dissatisfaction with the NNPP leadership at the national level and the inability of the party stakeholders to work in accordance with justice and democratic running of the party.

We Remain Fully Behind Kwankwaso

Reacting to the development, the Osun State Chairman said Kwankwaso is the most qualified candidate to become the next President of Nigeria.

His statement noted that Kwankwaso, “has all it takes to give our dear country a new lease of life come May 29, 2023, and beyond.”

“We in the Osun NNPP want to reaffirm our support for His Excellency, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the Presidential Candidate of NNPP.

“He is the most qualified of all the presidential candidates in Nigeria in terms of education, work experience, political maturity and closeness to the grassroots.”

NNPP Is A Changed Party

Speaking further, Abdullateef said the practice where the party trades off to support a ‘bigger’ candidate a few days before election no longer obtains.

He noted that past leaders of the NNPP might have done such, but times have changed.

He said, “It may interest the world to know that the leadership of NNPP at the National level has decided to put a stop to this betrayal habit, resulting in the change of the State leadership in Osun State.

“The after effect of the change was the show of shame by four candidates of the party, who purportedly endorsed another presidential candidate as witnessed.

“If candidates of a political party endorse the presidential candidate of another party while still holding on to the mandates of NNPP, their action didn’t come to us as a surprise.

“Once again, we outrightly dissociate Osun NNPP from people of unstable credentials and anti-party characters.

“As for the genuine members of the party in the state, we further affirm that all candidates of NNPP in Osun State are working towards success at the 2023 polls.”