In a statement on Thursday, NNPP National Secretary Ogini Olaposi said the party is not affiliated with the ADC and has no plans to join or merge with the coalition.

He clarified that the involvement of former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and members of the Kwankwasiya Movement in ADC activities does not represent the NNPP as a political party.

Olaposi also claimed that only a minority of Kwankwasiya supporters followed Kwankwaso, insisting that many of them have since joined the APC.

He further accused Atiku of misinformation, stressing that NNPP remains an independent political party focused on contesting elections on its own platform.

According to him, any previous association with the Kwankwasiya Movement ended after the 2023 general elections, adding that Kwankwaso and some associates had already been expelled from the party.

The NNPP maintained that it respects other political parties but has no interest in joining the ADC coalition.

Tanko made the remark during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, while reacting to comments by ADC chieftain Dele Momodu, who had suggested a possible Atiku–Obi alliance.

Momodu had argued that a pairing of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi could perform strongly in the election, citing their past collaboration in 2019 and Obi’s 2023 electoral performance.

Responding, Tanko questioned the logic of choosing a candidate who might win a primary but lose the general election, insisting that the Obi–Kwankwaso combination would be more formidable.

He further warned that if the ADC fails to zone its presidential ticket to the South, the party risks losing the 2027 election.

Tanko maintained that with Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso on the same ticket, victory would be decisive and swift.

Okonkwo made the remark during an interview on Channels Television, reacting to speculations that Obi may exit the coalition if he does not clinch the party’s presidential ticket.

He argued that such a move would suggest that Obi is compromised and indirectly aiding the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to him, any presidential aspirant who leaves the coalition over internal disputes would be “working for Tinubu,” insisting that loyalty to the ADC project should be absolute.

Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said he would step down for any candidate who wins the ADC presidential primary, including Peter Obi, if he emerges victorious.