The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has distanced itself from reports suggesting that the party’s former presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, took the incumbent Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, to some Supreme Court judges in 2019 over the outcome of the governorship elections in the state.
According to a statement over the weekend signed by the NNPP National Secretary, Oginni Olaposi Sunday, Kwankwaso was not a member of the party at the time the incident reportedly occurred.
The party therefore urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to immediately remove the name of the NNPP from any petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police and other investigations on the matter.
The NNPP described reports linking it to the controversy as misleading and incorrect.
“We are here to set the records straight. Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was not a member of the New Nigeria People’s Party in 2019 when he allegedly committed the offence of taking Governor Abba Yusuf to see some Supreme Court judges,” Oginni said.
The statement added that Kwankwaso only joined the NNPP a few months before the 2023 general elections, alongside notable political figures such as Buba Galadima, Prof. Alkali, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, Prof. Hanga and the current Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf.
The party also debunked claims that Kwankwaso was a founding member of the NNPP, and further accused the former Kano State Governor of trying to hijack the party and turn it into a personal venture.
“Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was never one of the founding fathers of the NNPP. The authentic founder of the party is Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam.
“It is sad that Senator Kwankwaso attempted to convert the intellectual property of the founder of NNPP to his personal use,” the party said.
The statement recalled that a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja had dismissed the suit challenging the legitimacy of a party convention that produced Dr. Agbo Gilbert Major as National Chairman and Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday as National Secretary.
The NNPP also reiterated that Kwankwaso had since been expelled from the party, adding that related matters were still under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“We are hereby reiterating the resolution of the National Working Committee that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is no longer a member of the NNPP. He was expelled shortly after the 2023 election for gross misconduct.
“Senator Kwankwaso has long been expelled from the NNPP and should no longer be addressed as the National Leader of our great party,” the statement by Oginni declared.
The party maintained that its legitimate leadership structure remains Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam as Founder and Chairman, Board of Trustees; Dr. Agbo Gilbert Major as National Chairman; and Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday as National Secretary.
