Umar Ardo, the promoter of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), has disclosed that he cautioned former Kano State governor Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and former Labour Party presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi against joining the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) due to the party’s ongoing legal issues.
Ardo revealed the information on Thursday during an appearance on the Morning Show on Arise Television.
He claims that his opposition to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) registration of the NDC predates Obi and Kwankwaso’s alleged interest in the party.
He emphasised that his stance had nothing to do with either politician and claimed that he publicly opposed the registration soon after INEC announced it on February 6.
Ardo clarified that he contacted Obi’s close associates to caution him against joining the NDC, pointing out that there were alternative political platforms available, after learning of what he described as irregularities surrounding the party.
He also revealed that, just prior to Kwankwaso’s purported move to the party, he had personally met with him and contacted him to let him know about the problems the NDC was facing.
Despite the warnings, Ardo said both politicians proceeded with their involvement in the party, adding that their entry had not changed the situation.
“I was here in your studio a day after INEC announced NDC’s registration,” he stated. On February 6th, I was against it. Thus, it has nothing to do with Peter Obi.
“It is not at all good. What did I have to do with Obi? What did I have to do with Kwankwaso?
“And when I had these facts, I told everyone who had been close to Peter Obi—I don’t have his phone number to speak with him directly—that if they were thinking about switching political parties, they should tell him that there are other parties to join instead of NDC because this is the issue NDC is dealing with.
And I told Kwankwaso after we sat down. A day or two before they moved in, I also gave him a call. I also explained to him that these are the issues this NDC is dealing with, but they refused. They went inside.
Therefore, the fact that they entered does not imply that the circumstances have changed. The state of affairs is just as dire as it has always been.
Therefore, my only motivation is to prevent a national fraud on the nation. You can’t expect people to vote for you in this manner.
About The Author
