TheCable

Rufa’i Alkali, national chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has faulted assumptions that the party is “small” and cannot win the 2023 presidential election.

In an interview with NAN, Alkali said people wrongly describe NNPP as a predominantly Kano party.

He said the party, in the last four months, has grown in leaps and bounds and built structures in all states of the federation.

Alkali said it’s a misconception to think that NNPP is a small political party and that it could not go far.

He said the party has been able to mobilise members, and have candidates for governorship elections, and national and state houses of assembly.

“Every political party in Nigeria and in Africa started somewhere. No political party just became a full political party overnight,” he said.

“Every political party has its internal challenges, but we are not the kind of political party you can describe as being full of crisis.

“This is not a small party. In fact, it is the fastest-growing political party in the country. We are on ground. NNPP is not a Kano affair or a northern affair.”

The chairman said NNPP has a reconciliation committee in place at the national and zonal levels to resolve all perceived disagreements.

He added that the party’s door remains open to all who are “ready to sacrifice for the nation rather than dealing with merchants”.

“There are people who are willing to support NNPP but for now, they want to keep quiet. They talk to us. They tell us that they are there for us but we should give them time,” he added.

“By the time these mature, things will change. It is only when we begin campaign and start to prepare for elections, then the picture will become clearer.”

On NNPP’s spread in the south-east, Alkali said the party is making an inroad into the region, adding that the resistance to change was the major issue in the region.

“Technically speaking, there is always resistance to change. PDP has remained strong in that region,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to support the NNPP as one of the most gender-friendly political parties.