In what appears to be a direct reaction to being sidelined by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in the race for his running mate, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is said to be in the centre of a proposed alliance in the build-up to the 2023 general election.

New Telegraph gathered from multiple sources that the governor and his bloc within the PDP are tinkering with a Peter Obi and Musa Kwankwaso ticket on the platform of Labour Party. Both Obi and Kwankwaso are Labour Party and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidates respectively.

The two former PDP members are currently using placeholders to keep their respective running mates pending when they will have substantive VP candidates. One of the sources said, “The Rivers governor is on the verge of brokering a Obi- Kwankwaso ticket since the momentum appears to be in favour of the South. I’m not, however, certain if Wike and others will move or strategically collapse their structure for the impending merger,” he said.

It was further learnt that talks between the two presidential candidates have reached advancedstage andwho would step down to become the running mate of the other will be unveiled very soon, especially with the intervention of Wike. When contacted, one of Obi’s aides could not confirm the move. However he told our correspondent that such alliance is what they are praying for.

“I am not aware of such a move but that is what we are praying for because we in Labour Party will appreciate an allianceof like-minds,” hesaid. Wikehad onThursday, June 23 held a closed-door meeting with the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

While receiving in audience the former Kano governor, Wike was clad in white attire with a red cap to match, which is the symbolic colour of the Kwankwasiya Movement led by his guest, Kwankwaso. Althoughtheagendafor the meeting was not made public, it was, however, speculated that Obi, who is already gaining support from Nigerian youths, met Wike to convince Kwankwaso to become hisrunning mate.

Likewise, on Friday, June 24, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Kwankwaso, and former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, visited Wike in Port Harcourt. Wike suffered defeat in the PDP presidential primary last May and he also failed to emerge as running mate to Atiku, despite recommendations from the party’s leaders that he should be picked. Some aggrieved members of PDP had lamented that despite the advisory committee set up by the party favouring Wike for the vice-presidential slot, Atiku opted for the Delta State Governor, whom he felt was level-headed and had the right temperament to push up his ticket.

Olaoluwa122:
The alliance is good for Nigerians..Obi is a good technocrat and kwankwanso is another capable man...But I don't think this merger can happen..kwankwanso cannot be a vice to P.O...Vote P.D.P in 2023 Vote Atiku

Olaoluwa122:
The alliance is good for Nigerians..Obi is a good technocrat and kwankwanso is another capable man...But I don't think this merger can happen..kwankwanso cannot be a vice to P.O...Vote P.D.P in 2023 Vote Atiku

Vistra40:


Kwankwaso would rather nominate a running mate don’t you think?

sosanova:
Another fake news again

Olaoluwa122:
Sure...Kwankwaso will not be a vice to a P.O..

Truthisunique2:
The only time wike would form alliance with another party is if he is on the ticket himself

So NNPP is a possibility, but na rivers people dey decide their fate not their governor

sleek214:
. Forget this post. It's just the imagination of the writer. 1st, will Kwankwaso leave NNPP to go join Obi in LP to be VP? Kwankwaso has governorship, senatorial, HoR, SHoA candidates in most of the northern states. What will happen to these candidates? 2nd, will PO agree to be VP by leaving LP to go join Kwankwaso?. PO accepting to be VP means he has lost 85% of his supporters same goes to Kwankwaso. Both men should run indefinitely. I stand with Atiku

Bawsse:
Please confirm the news before you make us well meaning Nigerians cum o....

Wike, PO and kwankwaso on one ticket? With PO the president and kwankwaso his able vice?.. Lol you wan Bury Apc and pdp be that o

Olaoluwa122:
The alliance is good for Nigerians..Obi is a good technocrat and kwankwanso is another capable man...But I don't think this merger can happen..kwankwanso cannot be a vice to P.O...Vote P.D.P in 2023 Vote Atiku

Move2:


https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2023-intrigues-as-wike-set-to-broker-obi-kwankwaso-ticket-on-lp/

Olaoluwa122:
The alliance is good for Nigerians..Obi is a good technocrat and kwankwanso is another capable man...But I don't think this merger can happen..kwankwanso cannot be a vice to P.O...Vote P.D.P in 2023 Vote Atiku