Umar Ardo, the promoter of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), said he had warned the former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi and the immediate past Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, against aligning with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Ardo said the party’s legal problems were still unresolved despite the reported involvement of the two politicians, reports said.
He spoke Thursday on the Morning Show of Arise Television.
Ardo said he was against the registration of the NDC by the Independent National Electoral Commission long before Obi and Kwankwaso’s reported interest in the party.
He said he openly opposed the registration soon after INEC announced it on February 6.
“One day after INEC announced the registration of NDC, I was here in your studio. I was against it on the 6th of February. So it is not about Peter Obi.
“It’s not good at all. What had I to do with Obi? What was my business with Kwankwaso?” he asked.
Ardo said after he discovered alleged irregularities surrounding the party, he contacted associates close to Obi to warn him against joining the NDC.
He also said he met Kwankwaso in person and later called him shortly before his alleged move to the party.
“And when I had these facts, I communicated to, I don’t have Peter Obi’s line to discuss with him directly, but I communicated all those who have been close to Obi to tell him that if they are considering going to another political party, there are other political parties to go in, not NDC because this is the problem NDC is facing.
“And I sat down with Kwankwaso and I told him. And I called him a day or two before they moved in, too. I told him these are the problems this NDC is facing but they refused. They went in and they entered,” he said.
Ardo said Obi and Kwankwaso’s involvement has not altered the legal issues of the NDC.
“So the fact that they entered does not mean that it has changed the situation. “It’s as bad as it ever was,” he said.
He said his opposition was meant to stop what he called a national fraud.
I have no motive whatsoever, other than to stop, you know, a national fraud on the country. You can’t come this way and expect people to vote for you,” “Ardo said.
