The National Working Committee (NWC) of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), on Tuesday, backed the Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, called for a merger of opposition parties against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The NNPP also believes in the unity of political parties and politicians, a necessary ingredient for peace, tranquility and development.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the acting National Chairman of the party, Abba Ali, said that the party is reiterating its position that the former Vice President Atiku’s latest call is a proposal, and applaud it wholeheartedly.
Ali said: “The NNPP sees this call from Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as patriotic and a welcome development for which we unreservedly commend him.
“The NNPP, however, has modifications to that collaboration being proposed by Alh. Atiku Abubakar. It is our belief that such an arrangement should be all-encompassing and broad.
“To the former Vice President’s call, our party notes that this was the same bold initiative which the opposition parties signed up to in 2015 and which enabled the merger that led to the defeat of the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).”
He recalled that the former Vice- President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was reported to have called for a merger of opposition parties as a way of checkmating the inordinate drive of the ruling APC towards a one-party state and protecting our hard-earned democracy.
He added, “At the moment, we are studying the mood of the country and the political atmosphere. NNPP will welcome any initiative from any political party and oblige any invitation towards discussing any arrangement, aimed at protecting our people, our democracy and towards the much desired accelerated and sustainable development of our country.
“Despite sponsored crises and challenges, we are confident that the NNPP will continue to provide the necessary alternatives in our political space.
“This we will do without prejudice to us joining forces with all other interested parties and like minds towards peace, security, progress, development and protection of our democracy and the overall interests of our country.”
