The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has dissociated itself from some members of the party who it alleged have been making disparaging comments against the party’s national leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
The party’s National Working Committee under the leadership of its acting National Chairman, Abba Kawu Ali, who spoke through its spokesman, Ladipo Johnson, said the so-called party members had long been expelled from the party.
Daily Trust reports that a crisis within the party had led to the factionalisation of the party, with parallel congresses expelling different members of the party after the 2023 election.
Briefing journalists in Abuja on Monday, Dr Agbo Major, who spoke on behalf of the General Assembly of the NNPP, said that that the tribunal and appeal court rulings that Kano State governor was not a registered member of the NNPP arose from non-compliance with the party’s constitution.
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“The misfortune of the NNPP is attributed to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s high-handedness, preventing party members from registering according to the law. The party has been taken over by the red-cap Kwankwasiya faction with no regard for party principles,” he said, adding that “Dipo Johnson, the spokesperson of Kwankwaso, is not a registered member of NNPP and has been hired for his role in inciting protests.”
But in a statement made available to journalists on Monday, Johnson said “Certain expelled members of the NNPP, which include Tope Aluko and some ex state chairmen conducted a press conference in Abuja to falsely state as a form of propaganda, that H.E. Abba Kabir Yusuf was not a member of the NNPP as at the time of the election and that His Excellency, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso was dismissed from the party.”
Johnson alleged that these “expelled” party members were sponsored elements to cause disaffection within the party.
“These allegations are totally false and inaccurate. We state that the Kano State governor was a bona fide member of the NNPP at all material times and that we have confidence in the Supreme Court of Nigeria that justice will be done,” he said.
