The Peoples Redemption Party on Wednesday rejected former Vice President and presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as the rallying point of opposition parties in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party also advised President Bola Tinubu to emulate late President Umaru Yar’Adua by admitting that the 2023 election which produced him as President was flawed with irregularities.
While describing Atiku and PDP as same bedfellows with the All Progressives Congress (APC), PRP said that it does not share anything common with the APC and PDP.
Atiku had indicated interest to lead a coalition of other political parties and Governors to dislodge the APC in 2027.
He argued that only a united opposition force can strengthen democracy in Nigeria, saying“I am as prepared as ever, to lead the charge, alongside all our leaders and Governors, for the good of our country.”
But the National chairman of PRP, Falalu Bello, told journalists at a press conference in Abuja that Atiku’s call for merger was for his personal interest.
Also in attendance were the PRP 2023 presidential candidate, Kola Abiola, his running mate, Haro Zego and other members of its National Executive Council (NEC).
According to Bello, the former Vice President has been part of a goverment that contributed to the challenges presently facing Nigeria.
While clarifying that the PRP was not against merger, he said the party is known with an ideology and would not want to go into an alliance with any party with different principles.
Bello said, “We have been a political party since 1979. We stand for something but we are not going to merge with any party that do not believe in what we believe in. We are in the left of the spectrum, not in the right. For me, PDP and APC are same thing. Both have ruled us for 25 years collectively and we have seen what they did. Is Atiku not the Vice President in the PDP government? Are they different. They are all capitalistic. China today has the highest number of billionaires and they practice mixed economy.
“When you are going to bed, you should go with someone you can sleep with well. We are who we are and remained consistent as a party. We were once deregistered but fought up to the Supreme Court to get our registration back.
“The PRP is not against alliance or merger but we do that based on principle not based on Atiku trying to be President. We are not going to be a party to any alliance that is not in line with oir principles. The only thing we have in common with PDP is that we are all political parties.
“Ideally, Labour Party should be our partner. They came here before election to talk to us but they were more concerned in who will become the presidential candidate. I don’t believe in what PDP stands for. I know Atiku since 1984 as a person, but that is a different matter on whether I like his policy or not. We believe in alliance or merger but we should have alliance with people of like minds.”
Reviewing the 2023 general elections, Bello said the polls were characterised by open voters purchase and bribing of officials, low voter turnout, religious manipulation, violence and malfunctioning of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
He warned that if the abnormalities were not corrected, democracy won’t survive in the country.
Bello said, “Notwithstanding the declaration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the duly elected President of Nigeria and the affirmation of same by the Supreme Court, the PRP like many other Nigerians, for reasons put herein, believe his election and most of other elections in 2023 are tainted with so many irregularities as stated in this review.
“For these reasons, the President is being challenged to write his name in gold in the annals of our nations democratic history, by doing what late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua GCFR did with the presidential election of 2007 which brought him to power.
“As recalled, late Yar’adua GCFR was sworn in as the President of the Republic, but publicly admitted that the elections that bought him to power were flawed and began a political reform that was to cure Nigerian elections of all frauds and manipulation by establishing the Justice Uwais Committee on Electoral Reforms in Nigeria.
“Implementations of the 2008 Justice Uwais Report holistically, would have guaranteed independence of INEC; changed the election mindsets of Nigerians responsible for violence in elections, rigging of elections and built lasting democratic institutions and culture”
The PRP presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Kola Abiola said the merger talks between the PDP, LP, New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) was simply a reunion of former members of same political family.
“The merger you see today is a home coming for most of the candidates. The NNPP and LP candidates were all PDP members. What they are taking about is not a merger, it is bringing back people who were in same party. We don’t call that a merger or alliance. There is a big difference. We are for mergers but our principles have to align”, Abiola said.
Friday Olokor
Follow us on:
