The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has revealed details of failed negotiations involving former presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso over a possible alliance with the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on ITV, Baba-Ahmed disclosed that discussions between the PRP leadership and representatives of the two politicians had advanced considerably before eventually collapsing due to disagreements over conditions allegedly presented by their camp.
According to him, Obi and Kwankwaso initially approached the party for collaboration as political consultations intensified ahead of the next election cycle.
The PRP chairman said the discussions were serious enough that both sides had begun considering the establishment of a committee to continue negotiations and work out possible terms for cooperation.
“They came and said they wanted to join the PRP, but when we sat down and discussed with them, there were certain demands they made,” Baba-Ahmed stated during the interview.
He explained that the major issue that stalled the talks was the request allegedly made by the politicians seeking guarantees over the party’s presidential ticket before formally joining the platform.
According to Baba-Ahmed, the camp of the two politicians wanted assurances that they would automatically emerge as the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the party for the 2027 election.
“Before they joined, they told us that they were the presidential candidates, meaning they should be given the ticket. We told them no, this is PRP; we do not practise that kind of politics,” he said.
The PRP chairman stressed that the party’s internal democratic principles and constitutional procedures would not allow any aspirant to secure automatic tickets without due process.
He maintained that every individual interested in contesting under the party’s platform must first become a registered member and subsequently participate in the party’s internal democratic processes.
“I told them: first come into the party. After joining, you can then tell me, ‘I am Obi and I want to run for president,’ and ‘I am Kwankwaso and I want to be his running mate,’” Baba-Ahmed explained.
He questioned why politicians considered to be influential and popular would fear participating in a competitive primary process.
“But for you to come even before a decision is made and ask us to guarantee you the ticket without opposition, if you are truly strong contenders, then why fear competition?” he asked.
Despite rejecting the alleged conditions, Baba-Ahmed acknowledged the political relevance and electoral strength of both Obi and Kwankwaso, noting that their presence in any political platform would naturally attract national attention.
“We believed that if anyone entered a room and saw Obi and Kwankwaso, they would think strong contenders had arrived,” he said.
However, he insisted that political popularity could not override the constitution and internal regulations guiding the PRP.
“But we cannot break our party’s rules,” he added.
Baba-Ahmed further disclosed that the politicians’ camp also requested that several strategic positions within the party structure be allocated to their loyalists and supporters because of their influence and existing political networks across the country.
According to him, the PRP leadership did not entirely reject the idea but insisted that such discussions could only take place after formal membership and proper integration into the party structure.
“They requested that many positions be given to them because they said they had many supporters. We told them this was not a problem, come into the party first, then we can sit down and discuss,” he said.
The PRP chairman also cited concerns allegedly raised by the politicians regarding the status of the party on the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, Obi and Kwankwaso’s camp claimed they could not initially find the PRP’s name on the INEC portal, an issue he said had since been resolved.
He further noted that concerns were also raised over internal disputes involving individuals allegedly claiming membership of the party, which the politicians feared could create confusion if they eventually joined the platform.
“They said when they checked the INEC portal, they could not find our party’s name there, which has been addressed,” Baba-Ahmed explained.
“But they also heard some people falsely claiming to be PRP members, which they felt could create confusion if they joined the party. We told them we are doing our best to address that too,” he added.
Despite the breakdown of the negotiations, Baba-Ahmed said the discussions ended amicably without hostility or confrontation between the parties involved.
According to him, both sides respected each other’s positions and chose to part ways peacefully after it became clear that an agreement could not be reached.
“We wished each other well and parted peacefully; there was no quarrel or fight,” he said.
The disclosure comes amid increasing political realignments and coalition talks ahead of the 2027 general elections, as opposition politicians continue to explore alliances and new platforms capable of challenging the ruling party.
Political observers say the revelation highlights the growing struggle among opposition figures to build consensus and agree on power-sharing arrangements as preparations for the next presidential election gather momentum across the country.
