The National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Agbo Major, has declared that Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has no influence over the party’s alliance plans for the 2027 elections.

Dr. Major made this statement following Kwankwaso’s announcement at a meeting of his Kwankwasiyya group in Abuja on Thursday, where Kwankwaso indicated that the NNPP was open to forming alliances in 2027.

The NNPP has been embroiled in an ongoing leadership dispute, with the party seeking a final ruling from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to update its records accordingly.

While Kwankwaso and his Kwankwasiyya Movement continue to assert control over the party, the national executive led by Major insists that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kwankwaso’s group expired after the 2023 general elections.

They also claim that Kwankwaso and his followers have been expelled due to alleged anti-party activities.

In a statement released Friday in Lagos, Dr. Major described the NEC meeting organized by the Kwankwasiyya Movement in Abuja as illegitimate and void.

He emphasized that decisions made during that meeting cannot override the party’s official positions or recent rulings by the Abia and Federal Capital Territory High Courts regarding NNPP leadership.

“Beyond the breach of trust, we are concerned that Kwankwaso continues to use the NNPP name to engage in negotiations and make comments that could destabilize the country,” Major said, referring to Kwankwaso’s recent accusations against the Federal Government of neglecting Northern Nigeria in developmental projects.

Dr. Major also noted that the NNPP is still awaiting a response from INEC concerning its request to formally recognize the new party leadership following a court-ordered convention.

He warned that “any individual or group entering into an alliance with Kwankwaso and his Kwankwasiyya faction under the NNPP banner does so at their own risk.”

The chairman reassured that the NNPP remains open to all Nigerians and will ensure that all aspirants participate fairly through mandatory primaries.

The Abia State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has firmly refuted reports claiming that its State Chairman, Don Norman Obinna, has been suspended.

In a statement issued by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Chiamaka Ohaja, the ADC described the viral publication as false, unauthorized, and deliberately misleading.

The party emphasized that there is no factional crisis within the Abia ADC, contrary to the impression created by the report.

Ohaja reaffirmed Obinna’s position as the duly recognized Chairman and clarified that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) has the constitutional authority to suspend a state chairman.

She further warned that individuals responsible for spreading what she termed “self-serving propaganda” would be sanctioned according to the party’s disciplinary procedures.

“This misleading report is an attempt to destabilize the party and mislead the public. We urge our members and the general public to disregard it in its entirety,” the statement concluded.

The Osun State Government has filed a fresh lawsuit at the Supreme Court against the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), over the alleged illegal withholding of federal allocations meant for its 30 local government councils since March 2025.

The new legal action, initiated on Monday, follows the state’s earlier move to withdraw a previous suit on the same matter.

Represented by its Attorney-General and a legal team led by senior lawyers Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), the state is asking the apex court to compel the Federal Government to release the withheld funds and permanently stop what it describes as the “unconstitutional and arbitrary” seizure of local government revenues.

Osun argues that the AGF ignored binding judgments from both the Federal High Court in Osogbo (delivered November 30, 2022) and the Court of Appeal (June 13, 2025), which upheld the legitimacy of the local government elections held on February 22, 2025.

These rulings nullified earlier polls conducted in October 2022 under the previous state administration.

The state disclosed that the AGF, in a letter dated March 26, 2025, advised that local government funds be withheld due to a supposed “crisis” at the grassroots level.

However, Osun maintains that the court decisions have already resolved the legal questions around the legitimacy of the elected local officials.

In its suit, Osun is seeking a declaration that the AGF has no constitutional authority to withhold local government allocations, that the action violates valid court judgments, that all funds must be released directly into the accounts of the elected councils and a perpetual injunction be granted to prevent future seizures.

A portion of the court filing states:

“The seizure, suspension, withholding and/or refusal to pay the allocations and revenues due to the constituent local government councils of the plaintiff state… is unconstitutional, unlawful, wrongful and ultra vires the powers of the defendant.”

The state is also asking the Supreme Court to determine whether the AGF is constitutionally obligated under Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to obey judgments of superior courts, and whether his March 26 directive can stand in light of the appellate court’s decision.

In a related development, the Osun Government has also filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Osogbo challenging the Chief Judge’s decision to transfer a case involving the same funds to Abuja, to be heard by a vacation judge.

The state warned that parallel proceedings could lead to conflicting outcomes.

In an affidavit, Olufemi Akande Ogundun, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, described the federal action as “an affront to the rule of law.”

He emphasized that only the Supreme Court can authoritatively resolve the constitutional issues at stake, citing precedents such as A.G. Kano State v. A.G. Federation (2007) and RMAFC v. A.G. Rivers State (2023).

The state further accused the AGF of creating a “self-induced urgency,” noting that he failed to respond to earlier court filings for over 80 days before submitting an urgent affidavit on August 13, 2025.

No hearing date has been set yet for the Supreme Court or Federal High Court proceedings.

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential flagbearer of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has stated that he has no intention of leaving the party, despite growing speculation about his political future ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking during the party’s 9th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja, Kwankwaso reaffirmed his commitment to NNPP, while also expressing a willingness to engage in discussions with other political stakeholders.

“Many expected us to announce today whether I’m leaving NNPP or joining another party, that was never the purpose of this meeting. NNPP is our party, and we are satisfied and proud to be part of it,” he said.

While reiterating his confidence in the party’s direction, Kwankwaso said the NNPP remains open to strategic dialogue and partnerships, but any future negotiations would be based on collective decision-making.

“We believe we have something meaningful to offer at the national level. We are ready to talk, but discussions will be inclusive and in the best interest of the country,” he added.

Earlier at the meeting, NNPP’s National Chairman, Dr. Ajuji Ahmed, publicly endorsed Kwankwaso as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

“Insha Allah, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso will fly our flag again in 2027. He is a visionary and dedicated leader,” Ahmed said.

He described the NNPP as a rising force in Nigerian politics “the beautiful bride” with a focus on progressive policies and the well-being of ordinary citizens.

On the party’s readiness for upcoming elections, NNPP’s National Secretary, Dipo Olayoku, confirmed preparations were in top gear for the November 8, 2025 Anambra governorship election, as well as the FCT Council elections scheduled for February 2026.