The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has made it clear that its 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, no longer has access to the party’s platform to contest in the 2027 general election.
In a statement released on Saturday, NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Major, dismissed recent claims by Elder Buba Galadima suggesting that Kwankwaso would remain with the NNPP and run for president under its banner.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had earlier reported Galadima’s remarks, where he asserted that there was no evidence of Kwankwaso defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and encouraged Nigerians to rally behind him ahead of the 2027 race.
But Agbo Major countered the narrative, stating that both Kwankwaso and Galadima had been formally expelled from the NNPP over “anti-party activities” and, as such, no longer have any rights within the party.
“The NNPP had long expelled Kwankwaso and Galadima, and so they no longer speak for us, nor can they use our platform for any political contest,” he said.
According to Major, the party’s Memorandum of Understanding with the Kwankwasiya Movement, led by Kwankwaso, was terminated shortly after the 2023 election cycle.
“Our Memorandum of Understanding with the Kwankwasiya Movement, led by Kwankwaso, ended shortly after the 2023 presidential election.”
“We cannot even allow Kwankwaso, for whatever reason, to return to the NNPP fold because of the problems and internal wranglings he created for us,” he added.
He accused Kwankwaso of hijacking party structures and manipulating internal processes, including altering the NNPP’s logo during a disputed convention.
“Kwankwaso led us into unnecessary litigations and even changed our party logo to the Kwankwasiya logo, all in an attempt to hijack the leadership of the party.
It was the Court’s interventions that led to INEC changing back to our logo that they submitted after a kangaroo convention in Abuja,” Major explained.
The NNPP chairman also cast doubt on Kwankwaso’s political viability in any future contest, especially against President Bola Tinubu.
“Kwankwaso must be counting on another free ticket like he got for the 2023 presidential election, but it would not happen again.
Certainly, Kwankwaso can never join any political party where he will not have the chance of leadership.”
“Kwankwaso and his group remain expelled, and we will not readmit them because they betrayed our trust massively. He does not have the pedigree to match President Tinubu in any contest, and so his ambition is dead on arrival,” he said.
While acknowledging Kwankwaso’s constitutional right to run for office, Major urged him to do so outside the NNPP and without dragging the party into personal feuds.
“It is Kwankwaso’s right as a Nigerian to seek to contest for any office, but he should do so without getting the party involved in any of his antagonisms against the president,” Major said.
He also revealed that the party has started receiving interest from other potential aspirants for 2027 and will ensure the next presidential ticket is awarded through a transparent and democratic process.
“Whoever will emerge as the NNPP 2027 presidential candidate will do so, following due process and constitutionality. We will no longer hand over our ticket on a platter of gold, and definitely not to someone who betrayed our trust and is no longer in the party,” he added.
Agbo Major concluded by warning Nigerians not to be misled by comments from Kwankwaso’s camp, emphasizing that the NNPP is committed to constructive, issue-based politics.
“The NNPP as a party believes in constructive criticisms of issues and not against personalities or other political parties.
We advise Kwankwaso to float his own party and use it for his own agenda.
NNPP has moved on and can’t be dragged into unnecessary controversies again,” he said.
