Kwankwaso never bought 69 forms in Kano, claim is fiction — PRP

Baba-Ahmed says Obi, Kwankwaso once explored joining party

…insists PRP has no crisis despite court challenge

By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — The Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, on Tuesday dismissed claims that the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, bought 69 nomination forms through the party in Kano State, dismissing the allegation as fabrication and political mischief.

The controversy followed claims by a man presented as the PRP’s Kano State chairman that dozens of nomination forms had been purchased on behalf of candidates linked to Kwankwaso, prompting the party to issue a public rebuttal and question the credibility of both the allegation and its source.

Speaking on ‘The Morning Show’ on ARISE Television, PRP National Chairman, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the individual behind the allegation was unknown to the party and had no authority to act on its behalf.

“This is complete fiction. The real State Chairman of the PRP in Kano has already issued a statement saying this is complete fabrication. There is no way a former governor could have bought 69 forms from the PRP in Kano.

“We do not sell forms in Kano; we sell forms from Abuja. The man who claimed that 69 forms were sold in Kano is not known to the party at all. He has no position and no authority to sell any forms. We do not know him,” Baba-Ahmed said.

According to him, candidates from Kano had already registered, contested the primaries and emerged through the party’s established process, with their names now being forwarded to the electoral commission.

Referring to his discussion with Kwankwaso over the matter, he said: “We were both amused and, to be quite honest, shocked that someone could come out of the blue and make such claims.

“I have spoken to Kwankwaso myself, and he is as amused as everyone else that anyone would claim he bought 69 forms for non-existent candidates. He is not a member of the party.”

Baba-Ahmed also disclosed that both NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate, Kwankwaso, explored joining the PRP ahead of its presidential primary before eventually settling for the NDC ticket.

“Yes, they did come. We had discussions about whether they could join the party. In the end, they felt there was not enough alignment with their needs, and they moved on. We parted as friends and remain friends,” he said.

On concerns about divisions within the party, Baba-Ahmed insisted that the PRP had moved beyond earlier challenges linked to the recognition of its convention and was now focused on preparations for the 2027 elections.

“The PRP has no crisis. We went through a very difficult and demanding period, where there were efforts from within and outside to weaken the party.

“The failure by INEC to upload our names after our successful convention, observed by INEC for more than a month, created some challenges. But we are beyond that now,” the PRP national chairman said.

He also dismissed suggestions that a legal challenge by Engr. Yakubu Kingsley to the emergence of the party’s presidential candidate, Donald Duke, reflected deeper divisions within the PRP.

“Engineer Kingsley had the opportunity to go through the party’s appeals committee, as provided for in our constitution, and he did so. His case was reviewed, like many others, and was found to have no merit.

“It is his right to go to court after exhausting internal mechanisms. This does not suggest any instability in the party. It is part of a healthy democratic process,” he said.

Looking ahead to the 2027 presidential election, Baba-Ahmed said the PRP would seek support across the country by presenting itself as a credible alternative to the major parties.

“We are not placing emphasis on a North-South divide. The PRP has fresh ideas. We understand why the country is struggling, and we intend to engage Nigerians to explain how we can reverse this situation,” the PRP national chairman said.

He said the party would unveil its manifesto within weeks, outlining its plans and strategy ahead of the election.

On insecurity, Baba-Ahmed argued that Nigeria had struggled to develop a coherent response to banditry, insurgency and terrorism.

“We have handled the issue of insecurity poorly, without a coherent strategy. There are different types of threats, and we have not developed an effective response to them.

“Any responsible government must combine firmness with openness to dialogue where appropriate. Those who lay down arms and are willing to renounce violence can be engaged, but there must also be accountability for crimes committed.

“What is not negotiable is the safety and security of Nigerians. That must remain the priority,” he added.

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