The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is currently weighing three major options as it prepares for the 2027 presidential election, according to the party’s spokesperson, Ladipo Johnson.
In a statement on Friday, Johnson revealed that the NNPP is considering either remaining independent, forming an alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), or joining the newly announced coalition spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The disclosure comes amid a wave of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, which has seen notable figures such as former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and incumbent Governor Sheriff Oborevwori switch allegiance to the ruling party. Atiku recently announced a new coalition effort involving Labour Party’s former presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, and other political heavyweights, aiming to reshape the opposition landscape ahead of the next general election.
Addressing the situation, Johnson emphasized that the NNPP, rooted in its Kwankwasiyya movement tradition, typically waits until the midterm point of an administration — May 29, 2025 — before making significant political moves.
“So, yes, we are talking, and we’ve been talking,” Johnson stated. “There are basically three cards on the table: either we remain in the NNPP and continue with those who joined us all the way; we form some sort of coalition with Atiku and others; or we form an alliance with the ruling party.”
He cautioned against rumors suggesting that NNPP leader Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is set to join the APC, labeling such reports as speculative and driven by “selfish reasons.”
Meanwhile, PDP lawmaker Ikenga Ugochinyere has raised alarms about further defections, warning that two more state governors and at least 40 PDP lawmakers are likely to defect soon. Ugochinyere urged the PDP’s National Working Committee to act swiftly to address the party’s internal challenges.
With political realignments gathering momentum, the NNPP’s eventual decision could significantly influence the dynamics of the 2027 presidential race.
