The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has dismissed reports that Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and former presidential candidate Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso have been suspended or expelled from the party.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, clarified this during an interview with News Central on Monday, stating that only the faction led by Dr. Ajuji Ahmed, which is recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has the authority to speak for the NNPP.
“The party has not expelled or suspended Abba Kabir Yusuf or Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,” Johnson said.
He explained that the leadership crisis within the party has led to conflicting statements from different factions, but only the INEC-recognized leadership remains legitimate.
“A party recognized by the Constitution and the Electoral Act must be the one registered by INEC. So, those making contrary claims are not a party but a group, whatever you want to call them,” he added.
The NNPP has been experiencing internal disputes over leadership control. Johnson emphasized that Dr. Ajuji Ahmed is the party’s official chairman, and that INEC acknowledges this leadership.
“INEC recognizes the NNPP led by Dr. Ajuji Ahmed as chairman and myself, Ladipo Johnson, as publicity secretary. That is what is recognized by law today,” he noted.
He further explained that the crisis began when one of the party’s founders, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, attempted to override decisions made by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC).
“We got to a stage where Dr. Aniebonam said, ‘I am the founder, and I am overruling the decisions of the NEC or NWC.’ And we said, no, and suspended him. Even Kwankwaso did not know he was going to be suspended, as it were. So that is how we got to this problem,” Johnson stated.
Despite the ongoing leadership struggle, the party insists that Governor Yusuf and Kwankwaso remain full members, urging members to disregard claims suggesting otherwise.
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