13th March, 2023
By Abbas Bamalli
The Chairman of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Katsina Alhaji Sani Liti, has said some members of the party endorsed governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, for the March 18 election because they believe that their own candidate, Engr Nura Khalil, is incapable of governing of the state.
Liti spoke while defending the recent endorsement of the APC flag bearer, Dikko Rada by Engr by Muttaqa Rabe -Darma, the running mate of the NNPP governorship candidate and other top officials of the party.
However, a faction of the party had after the endorsement announced the expulsion of Liti and other chieftains of NNPP who endorsed the APC governorship candidate.
The spokesperson of the NNPP in the state, Alhaji Nasiru Usman-Kankia, an ally of the governorship candidate, announced their expulsion from the party.
But while briefing journalists on Sunday in Katsina, Liti defended the dumping of the NNPP gubernatorial candidate of the party for the APC flagbearer by a faction of the party.
He also said the entire leadership of NNPP in Katsina endorsed the APC candidate.
According to him, the incapability of NNPC gubernatorial candidate forced the entire leadership of the party to throw their support behind the APC candidate, whom they believe can do better than him.
He listed the top officials of the NNPP that endorsed the APC candidate include Alhaji Umar Jibril, state Secretary, Mustapha Basheer, youth leader, Dauda Kurfi, Katsina zonal Chairman, Abdulhadi Mai-Dawa, Funtua Zonal Chairman, Dr Sale Mashi, Daura zonal Chairman, and Sen. Audu Yandoma.
“The members in the state working committee of our great party convened here to discuss important issues facing our party and to review our preparations towards the forthcoming elections.
“After exclusive review of the recent development within the party and our readiness for the elections, we have agreed that we are solidly behind the candidature of all the 34 state assembly candidates.
“And we shall do all that is possible to ensure their victory during the election on March 18. We are also still behind the party’s National leader, Dr Rabi’u Kwankwaso.
“The state working committee noted with disdain that the state acting PRO called for a meeting of the state executive committee on March 10, without the authorisation of the chairman of the committee.
“His action was in contradiction to the provision of article 10, section nine of the party’s constitution.” according to Liti.
He explained that the meeting, although illegal, was attended by some few members of the State executive council, adding that the action of the attendees also contravened the party’s constitution.
“Therefore, in line with article 17, section 4(a), the state working committee constituted a 9-man disciplinary committee, with Prof. Sanusi Jari as Chairman to investigate violation of articles and sections of the party’s constitution.
“While the committee is expected to submit its report on March 19, the committee has suspended the acting spokesperson of the party, his assistant, treasurer and acting welfare secretary,” Liti revealed.
According to him, the suspension will last until after the completion and determination of the extent of involvement of each of the accused persons.