The National Secretary of Labour Party (LP), Umar Farouk, and media aide to LP flag bearer, Peter Obi, Tai Emeka Obasi, have spoken on the alleged ongoing merger arrangement with the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Reports had emerged claiming Obi, Kwankwaso, and Atiku have opened a preliminary discussion on a possible merger with the ultimate goal of setting up a formidable platform that can unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking to The PUNCH, Farouk stated that there was no iota of truth in the report claiming the Labour Party will merge with the PDP and NNPP.
While not ruling out the possibility of an alliance, he vowed that Labour Party would never merge with any other political platform.
Farouk said: “That is not true. I think it is the imagination of the writer. It has not come to us as a party. Whatever is going on, if at all it is true, Peter Obi is probably doing that as a candidate, which he has a right to do and associate with whoever he wants to associate with.
“But as a party, we are not thinking of a merger with any political party. And Labour Party will never merge with any party.
“Whatever the issue may be, we cannot take any decision until after the judgment of our election petition at the tribunal. But as I mentioned earlier, count LP out of any merger with political parties. Alliance may be possible, though.”
Also speaking, Emeka Obasi disclosed that Peter Obi prefers to await the final judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to retrieve their mandate.
He said, “I don’t know of anything like that. Just like every other person, we are still waiting for the judgment of the tribunal. What’s the need for a merger without first getting the judgment? Are they merging as opposition teams, or what?
“I really don’t think so. I have also not heard my principal mention anything like that. My principal is someone who is very open and can interact on issues. Of course, we have respect for Atiku and also have the same for Kwankwaso.
“But those who are close to Obi know he has no enemy except for those fighting him unnecessarily. He is a Nigerian who will always interact with any other Nigerian for the good of Nigeria. But with the level of margin, I can tell you that for now, there is nothing like the merger you talked about.”
