LP, NNPP Deny Involvement in Merger, Alliance Talks with Any Party

Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) have denied involvement in any merger or alliance talks with any political party.
National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, yesterday in Abuja, dismissed speculations that the party was in any coalition or merger talks with any political party or group of political parties.

He was reacting to comments that the party was involved in such talks with a select group of opposition political parties.
The spokesman of the Labour Party explained that the party leadership was neither approached nor was it considering such a move.
According to Ifoh, “The was news in the media that a group of seven opposition political parties formed a new coalition tagged the Coalition of Concerned Political Parties.

“As was noticed, the Labour Party was not represented at the meeting in question and therefore couldn’t have been part of the coalition as suggested by the publication.
“The publication we can confirm quoted one of our officials out of context by giving a false impression that the Labour Party endorsed the coalition.
“We have continued to posit that the Labour Party is still undergoing a post mortem of the 2023 general election and until after the exercise, we will not be in a hurry to join the fray of any political arrangement.

“However, we will continue to participate in select meetings of like minds where issues arising from the last general election are discussed with intentions to propose possible solutions to developments that are threats to our democracy.  

“Labour Party is interested in leading discussions on electoral reforms in Nigeria. We would like to find a lasting solution where a President of Nigeria with a population of over 200 million emerge with less than nine million votes, and with less than 10 per cent of registered voters.

“Labour Party is also interested in finding a lasting solution to a situation where the courts have usurped powers of the electorate.”
Also, a member of the House of Representatives who represents Kiru and Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, clarified that NNPP was not in talks with any other political party for merger or alliance,

In a message he shared on his X account at the weekend, Jibrin refuted rumours circulating in the media that his party, the NNPP, is in merger negotiations with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to a widely circulated message in some sections of the media that our great party, NNPP, is in talks with the PDP and other parties for a possible coalition.

“There is no element of truth in this. It’s a blatant lie. Our party has consistently maintained a neutral stand that we are open to collaboration, alliance, and even merger with the APC, PDP, LP and any other political party.

 “There is presently no talk whatsoever ongoing and the party did not attend any meeting to discuss coalition or merger with PDP or any other party. It is an act of mischief makers and should be regarded as such.”