The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has opened up on why the alliance between the party and former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso crashed ahead of the 2027 elections.
During a Hausa political program on DITV Kaduna on Tuesday, Baba-Ahmed revealed that while both politicians approached the PRP for collaboration, the negotiations hit a brick wall over specific conditions they demanded.
“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 explained.
A major point of contention was the request for an automatic presidential ticket.
According to the Chairman, both figures wanted the party to guarantee them the slot without undergoing an internal primary contest.
“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 practice that kind of politics,” he stated.
Baba-Ahmed noted that he challenged them to join the party first and then test their popularity through the party’s constitutional processes.
“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.
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The PRP Chairman admitted that while the party acknowledged their political weight, they refused to compromise internal democratic rules.
He also disclosed that the camps requested several party positions based on their supposed supporter base.
“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 added.
Other issues that stalled the talks included concerns over the party’s visibility on the INEC portal and rumors of internal leadership disputes.
Despite the collapse of the deal, Baba-Ahmed maintained that the separation was mutual and respectful.
“We wished each other well and parted peacefully — there was no quarrel or fight,” he concluded.
