Kwankwaso confronts Baba Ahmed over alleged PRP presidential ticket demand

•We rejected Obi, Kwankwaso’s request for presidential ticket — Baba-Ahmed

•PRP chair seeking attention, says Kwankwasiyya Movement

By Hadiza Yusuf

KANO—The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed, claimed that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso did not join the PRP ahead of the 2027 general elections because they demanded the party’s presidential ticket, a request the PRP refused.

Speaking on a Hausa political programme on DITV Kaduna, Baba‑Ahmed said negotiations between the PRP and the two politicians collapsed after disagreements over conditions for joining the party.

In response, the Kwankwasiyya Movement quickly dismissed the allegation, describing the PRP chairman’s statement as an attempt to attract attention. Efforts to obtain Peter Obi’s reaction were unsuccessful last night.

Nevertheless, Baba‑Ahmed maintained that Obi and Kwankwaso had initially approached the PRP for possible collaboration and negotiations before a committee was proposed to continue talks.

“They came and said they wanted to join the PRP, but when we sat down and discussed with them, there were certain demands they made,” he said.

Baba‑Ahmed said a major issue was the request by both politicians to secure the party’s presidential ticket without facing internal opposition.

He added: “Before they joined, they told us that they were presidential candidates, meaning they should be given the ticket. We told them no, this is PRP; we do not practice that kind of politics.”

The PRP chairman explained that the party required Obi and Kwankwaso to formally join and follow its procedures before seeking any elective position.

“I told them: first come into the party. After joining, you can then tell me, ‘I am Obi and I want to run for President,’ and ‘I am Kwankwaso and I want to be his running mate.’

“But for you to come even before a decision is made and ask us to guarantee you the ticket without opposition if you are truly strong contenders, then why fear competition?” he queried.

Baba‑Ahmed said the PRP leadership recognised the political influence and support base of both men but insisted it could not violate its constitution or internal democratic process.

“We believed that if anyone entered a room and saw Obi and Kwankwaso, they would think strong contenders had arrived. But we cannot break our party’s rules,” he said.

He further disclosed that the camps of the two politicians had requested a significant number of party positions, citing the supporters they intended to bring into the PRP.

“They requested that many positions be given to them because they said they had many supporters. We told them this was not a problem, come into the party first, then we can sit down and discuss,” he added.

PRP chairman only seeking attention, says Kwankwaso’s camp

Spokesperson for the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Habeeb Saleh Mohammed, reacted the following day, dismissing Baba‑Ahmed’s allegations and stating he was unaware of any such arrangement.

“Well, I believe every Nigerian that is actually familiar with the situation will tell you that the PRP made an appeal on national television through its national chairman, Hakeem Baba‑Ahmed, asking Peter Obi and my principal, and even members of the coalition, to move into the PRP,” he said.

He added that, beyond the public appeal, he was not aware of any formal meeting where such demands were made.

Mohammed said: “I’m not actually aware of any official sitting among my principal, Peter Obi and the PRP as a party where my principal or Peter Obi directly requested a ticket.”

While questioning the motive behind the claims, the Kwankwasiyya scribe said: “I don’t know what exactly they are trying to prove. But the reality is that since my principal and Peter became the centre of attraction, I believe everybody wants to attract some sort of attention to himself by saying these things.

I think of late, since his younger brother joined his party, they have made it a point of talking, saying one thing or the other, either against Peter Obi or even my principal, or against the two of them.”

He maintained that, to his knowledge, there was never a time both politicians approached the PRP to demand a presidential ticket.

He added: “But otherwise, I don’t think there was a time, not to my knowledge, when they presented themselves to the PRP and demanded to be given the presidential ticket.”