NNPP Looks to Form Opposition Alliance, Drops 2027 Presidential Bid

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has announced that it will not field a presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections. Instead, the party said it will explore alliances with other political parties should a credible and widely acceptable candidate emerge.

National Chairman Bala Yusuf made the decision public on Saturday during the party’s 11th National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja. Delegates at the meeting also ratified the results of recent primaries in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026.

Yusuf denied rumors of a covert agreement with the African Democratic Congress, stating that the NNPP had not entered into any pact with another party despite growing discussions about opposition coalitions.

The announcement follows concerns voiced by National Secretary Dipo Olayoku over the mass defections that have weakened the NNPP’s ranks, including the departures of former National Leader Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, and several other elected officials and appointees.

According to Yusuf, the NNPP is keeping its options open and will evaluate candidates produced by other parties before making a final decision.

“For now, this is the last day for the submission of anything that has to do with the selection of candidates by the INEC guidelines. We are not going to have any presidential candidate in our party, but we are open to an alliance,” he said.

“It’s not for us to have a presidential candidate that matters. Nigeria is in a very difficult situation. We need to see if other parties will bring out a very good, credible and well‑focused presidential candidate. I don’t think there will be any problem joining forces with them to have a good presidential candidate,” Yusuf added.

“No, we don’t have any presidential candidates. We want to see what other parties are producing as their authentic presidential candidate. Then we’ll work towards that,” he concluded.