According to the NNPP. The claim that Kwankwaso has been expelled is false.

THE NWC of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has reiterated that the party is intact, dismissing reports that it has been factionalised, and that those who have been suspended from the party lack the constitutional authority to expel the party’s candidate for the February 25th Presidential election, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, the interim National Chairman of the NNPP, Mallam Abba Kawu Ali, characterised people claiming that Kwankwaso has been suspended as “empty barons,” and said the narrative is regrettable and nonsense.

“We wish to reiterate that our NWC is intact, except for the former National Publicity Secretary and his cohorts, who have been expelled by a properly constituted National Executive Committee (NEC),” the NWC said. All of our State Chairmen (37) and other NEC MEMBERS. Since the public dissolution of the Board of Trustees (BOT) in 2022 in the presence of INEC and the media, the NNPP has not formed a new Board. The BOT is not something that can be formed by one person sitting in one corner.”

In a speech delivered on behalf of the acting national chairman by the party’s National Auditor and Chairman, Disciplinary Committee, Oladipo Johnson, the party stated that it will not spend time answering the question about the expulsion of the former Kano State Governor.

“As you are aware, some members of the NNPP were properly investigated and sanctions were applied in accordance with the letters of our Constitution, based on allegations of anti-Party activities during the 2023 General elections.” About ten (10) of them assembled in Apapa, Lagos, with Dr. Boniface Aneibonam and our former National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Gilbert Major Agbo, and claimed to have dissolved the Party’s lawfully constituted National Working Committee (NWC).

“For the record, the current NWC was formed and inaugurated on April 20, 2022, for a four-year term, in a ceremony attended by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).” The procedure for dismissing members of the NWC is spelt out in our Constitution, and no organ of the Party, not even the Board of Trustees, has the authority to dissolve the NWC.

“The findings of our investigations have made it abundantly clear that some external forces, fearful of the 2027 elections, are behind these obstinate individuals and their shenanigans, with His Excellency, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso Ph.D., FNSE as their primary target.” We are aware of their engagements and plans as a Party. We are aware of their limitations under the statutes (NNPP Constitution, Electoral Act, INEC Guidelines, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as Amended), but because their mission, in collaboration with our detractors from outside the party, is to create confusion and distraction, the Party, as a law-abiding organisation that believes in the rule of law, has decided to approach the courts to put a stop to their evil machinations of disrupting our well-being.

“To that end, the NNPP approached the Court as a PARTY to assist in restoring sanity in the polity.” It’s no secret that these former members’ actions are not sanctioned by the law. Because of their suspension/expulsion, the arrow heads of this attack are no longer members of the PARTY. However, given the opposition’s support, we must use the legal tools at our disposal to safeguard the party’s integrity. As a result, the party was granted an interim order of injunction on the 4th of September 2023 in Suit No: K/M1157/2023, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice, which prohibits the Defendants, by themselves, their Agents, Cronies, and Whosoever acting through or for them from parading themselves, issuing press releases, granting interviews, and so on as Officers, Leaders, or members of the party. (Order attached).

“We are all rational beings capable of reasoning. How might certain former members who had been suspended or expelled meet and make statements about the Party? For the sake of emphasis, Kano State Governor, Senators, House of Representatives members, Speaker House of Assembly, all members of the NWC, including their Deputies (except Major Gilbert Agbo, who was then on suspension before his expulsion), the six (6) Ex-officio members, Chairmen of all three (3) states and the FCT, and other MEMBERS OF the NEC were present at our last NEC meeting last Tuesday, August 29, 2023. Isn’t it amusing that some people still refer to those who were ejected as a faction? Which political party’s faction?

“It is extremely unfortunate that a political party that has been in existence since 2002, and as of the time we HELD the 2023 General elections, could not brag of one House of Assembly member (the Honourable who won a seat in Bauchi in 2019 had switched to PDP), could be talking about “bringing their party back.” Who is it? Is it possible that some members are only interested in hosting a party on paper? Is it true that some people are “satisfied with having a party that they can only use for ‘negotiations’ or to transact business when elections come”? Why are some people upset when a member of their party wins an election? As in the case of the Honourable from Bauchi, who defected to the PDP due to frustration?

“We would like to reiterate that our NWC is still intact, with the exception of the former National Publicity Secretary and his cohorts, who were expelled by a properly constituted National Executive Committee (NEC).” All of our State Chairmen (37) and other NEC MEMBERS. Since the public dissolution of the Board of Trustees (BOT) in 2022 in the presence of INEC and the media, the NNPP has not formed a new Board. The BOT is not something that can be formed by one individual sitting in one corner.

” Finally, we are aware that they are asking false questions about the Party. “In what capacity” is the question. They lack the locus to pose any questions about the Party because they are not members, at least for the time being. You lose all of your rights and privileges if you are suspended or expelled.”