Ardo Claims He Warned Peter Obi, Kwankwaso Over Move Against NDC

Umar Ardo, the promoter of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), said he had warned the immediate past Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and the former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, against aligning with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

But the party’s legal problems are far from over with the reported involvement of the two politicians, Ardo said, reports said.

He spoke Thursday on Arise Television’s Morning Show.

Ardo said he opposed the registration of the NDC by the Independent National Electoral Commission long before Obi and Kwankwaso’s alleged interest in the party.

He said he openly opposed the registration soon after it was announced by INEC on February 6.

“One day after INEC announced the registration of NDC, I was here in your studio. I opposed it on February 6. So it is not about Peter Obi.

“It is not good at all. What had I to do with Obi? What business did I have with Kwankwaso?” he asked.

“When I discovered alleged irregularities surrounding the party, I contacted associates close to Obi to warn him against joining the NDC,” Ardo said.

He also said he met Kwankwaso personally 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 phoned him a day or two before they moved in too. I told him that these are the problems this NDC is facing, but they refused. They went in and they went in,” he said.

Obi and Kwankwaso’s involvement, Ardo said, has not changed the legal issues of the NDC.

“So the fact that they entered does not mean that it has changed the situation. “It’s no worse than it ever was,” he said.

He said his opposition was to prevent what he called a national fraud.

“So I have no motive whatsoever, other than to stop, you know, a national fraud on the country. You can’t come down this way and expect people to vote for you,” Ardo said.