NNPP Criticizes Kwankwaso’s Visit to Otti
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has strongly condemned the recent visit by its former presidential candidate, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to Abia State Governor Alex Otti. In a statement issued after an emergency meeting at Rockview Hotel in Apapa, Lagos, the NWC labeled Kwankwaso’s visit on November 9 as a “deceptive move,” which they linked to a recent court ruling in Abia State affecting the party’s internal leadership structure.
The ongoing crisis within the NNPP escalated recently when a faction of the party expelled Kwankwaso, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, and members of the Kwankwasiya group. This development follows growing discontent within the party’s Kano State chapter, where members have reportedly urged the governor to rein in Kwankwaso’s significant influence over the party.
In the statement, Abdulrasalam Abdulrazaq, the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, reiterated that Kwankwaso and the expelled Kwankwasiya members no longer held any legitimate positions within the party. Any attempts by these expelled members to claim leadership roles, he asserted, amounted to “irresponsibility and impersonation.”
The core issue at the heart of the dispute stems from a recent Abia State High Court ruling, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transfer control of the NNPP to its Board of Trustees (BoT), led by Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, in accordance with the party’s 2022 constitution.
The NWC urged Governor Otti to refrain from interfering in the NNPP’s internal matters and cautioned against any attempts by Kwankwaso to destabilize the party ahead of the 2027 elections. The statement emphasized that Governor Otti, as a democrat who respects the rule of law, should recognize the separation of powers and avoid aligning with political manoeuvres that could undermine the party.
Additionally, the NWC criticized Kwankwaso for allegedly sowing division within the party since joining in 2022, accusing him of trying to “hijack” the NNPP for his own benefit. The NWC claimed that Kwankwaso’s actions betrayed the founding principles of the party.
Reaffirming the role of the judiciary, the NWC underscored that the court’s ruling was binding on INEC, which has the authority to regulate political parties. The party urged Kwankwaso to seek legal remedies for his grievances instead of using political channels to challenge the court’s decision.
The NWC also took issue with Kwankwaso’s recent comments to newly appointed police officers in Abia, accusing him of hypocrisy for calling for a “fear of God” while allegedly undermining the integrity of the NNPP for personal gain.
“Had Kwankwaso truly embraced this principle, he would not have sought to take control of the party for his own purposes,” the NWC stated.
Finally, the NWC reaffirmed Dr. Aniebonam’s position as the legitimate chairman of the BoT and the NNPP founder, emphasizing that Kwankwaso and his faction remained expelled. The NWC concluded by stating that only INEC has the legal standing to challenge the court’s order and that the expulsion of Kwankwaso and his group was final, helping to restore peace and order within the party.
