The National Working Committee (NWC) of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has condemned the recent visit by its former presidential candidate, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to Governor Alex Otti of Abia State.
The party described Kwankwaso’s meeting with Otti on November 9 as a “deceptive ploy” and linked it to a recent Abia State High Court ruling that affected the party’s internal structure.
The party’s internal crisis has escalated following the expulsion of Kwankwaso, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, and members of the Kwankwasiya group from the NNPP.
This crisis has also intensified within the Kano State chapter of the party, where members have reportedly called for a reduction in Kwankwaso’s influence over the party’s activities.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Abdulrasalam Abdulrazaq, reiterated that Kwankwaso and his group had been expelled from the party.
He added that any efforts by the expelled members to claim leadership within the party would be considered “irresponsible” and an act of “impersonation.”
The controversy stems from an Abia State High Court ruling, which mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transfer control of the NNPP to the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), led by Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, in line with the party’s 2022 constitution.
The NWC urged Governor Otti to stay out of the party’s internal matters and avoid being dragged into what it called Kwankwaso’s attempts to destabilize the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party also accused Kwankwaso of using his position to create division within the NNPP since joining in 2022, claiming that his ultimate goal was to “hijack” the party for personal advantage, thereby betraying the trust of its founders.
Reaffirming its support for the court’s ruling, the NWC stated that Kwankwaso’s objections to the decision should be pursued through legal channels rather than through political tactics or meetings with state governors.
The statement emphasized that INEC, not Kwankwaso or his group, had the authority to challenge the court’s order.
Furthermore, the NWC criticized Kwankwaso’s recent comments to police officers in Abia, questioning the consistency of his call for a “fear of God” given his actions within the NNPP and in Kano State.
The party argued that if Kwankwaso had truly adhered to that principle, he would not have sought to seize control of the party for his personal interests.
The NWC reaffirmed Dr. Boniface Aniebonam as the legitimate chairman of the BoT and NNPP founder, declaring that the expulsion of Kwankwaso and his group is final and crucial to restoring peace within the party.
The NWC further emphasized that only INEC had the legal standing to appeal the court’s decision, signaling a clear stance on the issue.
