Kwankwaso emerges NNPP national leader

A former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Wednesday, in Abuja, emerged as the national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

This is coming a day after Kwankwaso, a former Minister of Defence, dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in his ward in Kano and joined the new party on Tuesday in Abuja.

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Kwankwanso, who obtained the membership card of the NNPP ahead of Wednesday’s convention, said that in 30 years, he contested elections 16 times and won 13 times.

“I know why people lose elections and I know how people win elections.

“In the last 30 years, I have contested election 16 times and won 13 times,” Kwankwaso said while responding to questions from journalists about whether his new political party will perform well in the 2023 general elections.

At the end of the convention, the 39-man new National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party was dominated by Kwankwaso loyalists, including those with him in the Kwankwasiyya Movement and The National Movement (TNM), a third force he launched in Abuja.

Emerging as the National Chairman of the NNPP is Prof. Rufai Alkali, a political scientist and former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from Gombe State; Deputy National Chairman, AVM Ifemeje John Chris (Retd), Anambra; National Secretary, Mr Dipo Olayoku, Ogun State; National Organizing Secretary, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, Kaduna and National Publicity Secretary, Major Gilbert Agbo, Benue among others.

Speaking earlier, Kwankwaso said he was impressed with the support of his loyalists and supporters of the party.

“What remains is for all of us to go back to the grassroots, our states and local governments to register ourselves and families and to tell all Nigerians to register with NNPP.

“We are all aware that the people are tired of the APC and PDP and that was why previous elections recorded low voter turnout.

“We thank God that we have fresh air for a better new Nigeria. People are tired and want change and the NNPP is the fresh air that can do it,” Kwankwaso said.

He also berated the present administration for failing to tackle insecurity, lamenting Monday’s train attack in Kaduna which led to the killing, injury and kidnapping of passengers.

He said he was pained at the turn of events, especially as a former Minister of Defence.