The National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Ajuji Ahmed, has dismissed widespread rumours claiming the party is plotting to form an alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking on the matter, Ahmed stressed that the NNPP is charting its own political path and is not in any form of conversation with President Bola Tinubu or the Presidency.
He described the speculation as baseless and completely out of tune with the party’s internal agenda.
According to him, “I can tell you for free that the national leader of the NNPP is not romancing or making any conversation with either the President or with the Presidency and that is a genuine statement, not a political one.”
Ahmed made it clear that the party is focused on strengthening its structures ahead of the next general elections and is not exploring any backstage political arrangements. He said the NNPP is confident that the battle for Kano State in 2027 will be decided by the voters and not by any political merger or coalition.
The Party Chairman emphasised that the NNPP has no intention of relying on the APC to win, insisting that doing so would be counterproductive to the party’s growth in the state. He said the party’s strategy remains to build its base, expand its reach, and work with Nigerians who believe in the NNPP brand.
In his words, “I don’t believe that because we want to be successful, we have to join the APC. We believe that joining the APC will guarantee our failure in Kano.”
Ahmed also spoke on the party’s broader ambitions, noting that the NNPP is gradually building its presence across the country. He added that apart from the APC, the NNPP remains the only party with a solid structure cutting across all states and local governments.
Addressing concerns about the party’s presidential ticket, he explained that the NNPP is open to every aspirant who meets the requirements and that the final decision will come from the National Working Committee (NWC).
He acknowledged the political influence of Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso but maintained that the former Kano governor does not single-handedly determine the fate of the party.
He said Kwankwaso understands the system and respects the internal processes guiding the NNPP, adding that no single individual can override the party’s organs.
On the state of opposition politics in Nigeria, Ahmed rejected claims that the APC is responsible for the crisis rocking other parties. He argued that political instability usually comes from within and that no external force can tear apart a party that is united and organised.
According to him, “whatever party is in crisis, it is in crisis due to its own internal contradictions.”
He noted that if major parties like the PDP and the Labour Party had worked as a cohesive unit, they wouldn’t be facing the level of fragmentation they currently suffer. He said the NNPP prefers to stay calm and focused, rather than being loud without direction.
He added, “We prefer to be silent than to be noisy like PDP because they are noisy for all the wrong reasons. And we are silent for all the right reasons.”
Ahmed hinted that the NNPP has ongoing internal plans that will be revealed at the appropriate time. He suggested that critics doubting the party’s strength will eventually realise that his warnings were not empty.
“You will come here again and say to me, you told me so,” he said with confidence.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.