The National Working Committee (NWC) of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on Sunday condemned the recent visit by former presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to Governor Alex Otti of Abia State.
The NWC, in an emergency meeting held at the Rockview Hotel in Apapa, Lagos State, said Mr Kwankwaso’s visit on November 9 was a “deceptive and “It was a ploy,” he said.
The NNPP is embroiled in a deepening crisis with the expulsion of Mr. Kwankwaso, Kano State Governor Aba Yusuf and members of the Kwankwasiya Group by a faction of the party.
Some members of the Kano state branch also urged Governor Yusuf to curb Kwankwaso’s influence within the party.
In a statement issued by NNPP National Publicity Secretary Abdulrasalam Abdulrazaq, the party said Kwankwaso and his group have been expelled and any attempt to act on behalf of the national executive is “irresponsible and impersonation”. claimed to be the case. The NWC stressed that those expelled did not hold legitimate positions within the party.
At the center of the controversy is the Abia state that under the NNPP’s 2022 constitution, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should transfer the management of the party to the Board of Trustees (BoT) led by Dr. Boniface Anibonam. This is a direction from the state high court.
The NWC called on Governor Otti to avoid internal conflicts in the NNPP and warned him against Mr Kwankwaso’s alleged attempts to “destabilize” the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
"Governor Otti is a democrat who respects the rule of law, and we believe he understands the separation of powers,” the statement said.
Kwankwaso was further accused of using his influence to sow discord within the NNPP since joining the party in 2022, with the NWC saying his aim was to “hijack” the party for personal gain and It was argued that this was a betrayal of the trust of the founder.
The NWC reaffirmed its respect for the judiciary and said Kwankwaso should seek redress through legal channels rather than through “disguised” political meetings.
“This judgment is binding on INEC, which has the duty to regulate political parties and their activities,” the statement said, urging legal action against political manipulation.
The NWC also criticized Mr. Kwankwaso’s recent speech to new police officers in Abia State, calling his call for “fear of God” hypocritical given his actions in Kano City and within the NNPP. he claimed.
“If he truly adhered to this principle, he would not have tried to hijack the party for personal gain,” the NWC said.
Reaffirming Dr Anibonam’s position as BoT chairman and NNPP founder, the NWC said the expulsion of Kwankwaso and his group is final and aimed at restoring peace within the party.
“For the avoidance of doubt, INEC alone has standing to appeal against the mandatory orders of the courts.The expulsion of Kwankwaso and his group is final and Peace will be restored,” the statement concluded.
