The Nationwide Working Committee of the New Nigeria Folks’s Get together, on Sunday, condemned the latest go to of its former presidential candidate, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to Governor Alex Otti of Abia State.
At an emergency assembly held at Rockview Resort, Apapa, Lagos, the NWC described Kwankwaso’s November 9 go to as a “misleading ploy” linked to a latest Abia State Excessive Courtroom ruling affecting the social gathering’s inside construction.
The disaster rocking the NNPP deepened lately, with a faction of the social gathering expelling Kwankwaso, the Kano State governor, Abba Yusuf and Kwankwasiya group members.
Additionally, there was a disaster within the Kano State chapter of the social gathering, with members reportedly asking the governor to cease the overbearing affect of the previous presidential candidate of the social gathering.
In an announcement issued by the NNPP Nationwide Publicity Secretary, Abdulrasalam Abdulrazaq, on Sunday, the social gathering famous that Kwankwaso and his Kwankwasiya group members had been expelled from the social gathering, and any try by the expelled members to characterize the nationwide govt is an act of “irresponsibility and impersonation.”
To this extent, the NWC identified that these expelled people didn’t maintain any recognised place inside the NNPP, and their claims to management had been invalid.
On the coronary heart of the controversy is the Abia State Excessive Courtroom ruling, which ordered the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee to switch the social gathering’s administration to the Board of Trustees, led by Dr Boniface Aniebonam, in accordance with the NNPP’s 2022 structure.
The NWC urged Otti to keep away from involvement within the NNPP’s inside affairs, warning in opposition to any try by Kwankwaso to “destabilise” the social gathering forward of the 2027 basic elections. “Governor Otti is a democrat, who respects the rule of legislation, and we belief he understands the separation of powers,” the assertion mentioned.
Additionally, the social gathering criticised Kwankwaso for allegedly utilizing his affect to create inside discord inside the NNPP since becoming a member of the social gathering in 2022.
Based on the NWC, Kwankwaso’s agenda had been to “hijack” the social gathering for his private acquire, ostensibly to betray the belief of its founders.
Reaffirming the independence of the judiciary, the NWC said that Kwankwaso’s grievances with the courtroom’s determination must be addressed via authorized means, not political manoeuvring.
“The judgment binds INEC, which is remitted to control political events and their actions,” the assertion learn. It additional emphasised that Kwankwaso’s dissatisfaction must be pursued legally, relatively than via “disguised” conferences with state executives.
Additionally, the NWC criticised Kwankwaso’s remarks to the newly appointed cops in Abia State, stating that his name for a “concern of God” contradicted his political actions, particularly in Kano State and inside the NNPP.
“Had he really adhered to this precept, he wouldn’t have tried to hijack the social gathering for private acquire,” the NWC mentioned.
The NWC reaffirmed Dr Aniebonam’s place because the chairman of the BoT and NNPP founder, insisting that Kwankwaso and his group remained expelled.
“For the avoidance of doubt, INEC alone has the locus standi to attraction the courtroom’s compelling order.
“Kwankwaso and his group’s expulsion is last, restoring peace inside the social gathering,” the assertion concluded.