Kwankwaso, Kano gov remain NNPP members – Party

The New Nigeria People’s Party reaffirmed that Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso remain party members.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ladipo Johnson, gave the clarification during the central meeting of the party on Monday.

He stressed that only the faction led by Ajuji Ahmed, which is officially recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, had the legitimate authority to speak for the party.

“INEC, for the sake of argument, has the NNPP under Dr Ajuji Ahmed as chairman and myself, Ladipo Johnson, as the publicity secretary.

“That is what is recognised by law today. That party has not expelled or suspended Abba Yusuf or Rabiu Kwankwaso,” Johnson stated.

The clarification followed an unfolding leadership crisis within the party, which had witnessed a series of suspensions and counter-suspensions among party leaders.

The dispute dates back to a power struggle involving one of the party’s founders, Dr Boniface Aniebonam.

Johnson revealed that Aniebonam’s attempt to overrule the decisions of the party’s National Executive Council and National Working Committee led to his suspension.

“Dr Boniface Aniebonam was one of the founders of the NNPP. Kwankwaso, Buba Galadima, myself, and others joined in 2022.

“One year before the 2023 elections, issues started. We got to a stage where Dr Aniebonam claimed authority over the party’s NEC and NWC.

“We opposed this, leading to his suspension. Even Kwankwaso was unaware that he would be suspended,” Johnson stated.

The crisis deepened when the faction loyal to Kwankwaso rejected the recent national convention that resulted in the election of Dr Agbo Major as the NNPP’s new national chairman.

The convention, held at Rock View Hotel in Apapa, Lagos, was reportedly attended by national and state-level party delegates.