NNPP crisis: Court halts Kwankwaso’s expulsion, ex-national chairman Alkali quits party

High Court in Kano presided over by Justice Usman Mallam Na’abba has restrained members of the group loyal to the Board of Trustees of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) from acting as officials of the party or suspending/expelling its presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The injunction followed a suit no K/M1157/2023 of the 4th day of September 2023, filed by the party against the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, former National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Agbo Major and 16 others said to have been filed on August 30th, 2023 and deposed to by one Hashimu Suleiman.

It also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the “purported suspension (of Kwankwaso) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice, while adjourning to October 5, 2023.

The injunction which was issued on September 4, is coming just as the former national chairman of the party, Prof. Ahmed Rufai Alkali formally resigned his membership of the party, saying the crisis rocking the party appears to have no end in sight.

Alkali said in his letter of resignation made available to The Nation that parties in the crisis have refused to allow elders of the party to mediate with a view to finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

Prof Alkali, who resigned from his chairmanship of the party in March, said he had hope then that his resignation was an opportunity for the party to move ahead and move fast to consolidate on the indisputable gains made during the last 2023 General Elections and prepare for the forthcoming elections.

He said: “Unfortunately, in the last few weeks, the party has slipped deeper and deeper into avoidable crises and conflicts that have led to several cases of suspension and counter-suspension of key leaders of the party, acrimonious press war, accusations and counter-accusations, which regrettably has led to the fictionalisation of the party.

“After the historic merger of the party in March 2022, together with other astute, highly dedicated, hardworking and loyal members of the party, we put in place a robust political structure nationwide.

“The National Working Committee (NWC) forged cohesion among our members and created a formidable national platform that fielded candidates for all elective offices from the State Houses of Assembly to National Assembly, Governorship and the Presidency. I am proud to be part of that Dream Team.

“It is on record that within a period of less than one year and despite the limited time corridor from the merger to the General Elections, the party won elections in the Governorship, National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly seats.

“I voluntarily stepped aside as the National Chairman of the NNPP shortly after the general election this year to give room for new hands and fresh ideas in order to advance the party forward.

“As far I was concerned, I never believed in the culture of sitting tight in leadership positions nor that I was indispensable. The New Nigeria we all aspire to achieve must be built on a solid foundation of dedication, hard work, resilience and personal sacrifice.

“However, the recent disturbing developments in the NNPP with the emergence of factions working against each other is really unfortunate and counter-productive. Sadly, there appears to be no end in sight in this needless war of attrition.

Addressing newsmen at the Party National Secretariat on Tuesday, September 5, the acting national chairman of the party, Alhaji Kawu Ali, whose address was read by the national auditor, Oladipo Johnson blamed some unnamed external forces scared of the 2027 general election as those responsible for what is happening in the party.

He said: “The results of our investigations have made it very clear that some external forces, scared of the 2027 elections, are behind these recalcitrant persons and their shenanigans and their main target no doubt is His Excellency, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso PhD, FNSE.

(Nation)

Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive your daily dose of NEWS FLASH content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.