18th November, 2023
By Adeyemi Adeleye
The National leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has confirmed that Yabuku Shendam is not its National Publicity Secretary, and so, cannot speak for the party on the proposed merger of opposition political parties against ruling APC.
The NNPP National Chairman, Dr Major Agbo, who disclosed this on Saturday, said Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq remained the National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP.
“We insist he (Shendam) is not a card carrying member of our party but probably the spokesman of Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso’s kwankwasiya group,” Agbo said.
The chairman was reacting to recent statements by Shendam on the reported call by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP for a merger among opposition parties to wrestle power from the APC in 2027.
He said that Shendam was quoted as saying “the NNPP could only accept the proposal if Atiku would support Kwankwaso, to wrest power from the APC in 2027”.
Agbo described Shendam as speaking for Kwankwaso whom he said, had long been expelled from the party by the NNPP Board of Trustees (BoT).
“The BoT in its meeting on Aug. 28, had expelled Kwankwaso and the decision was ratified by the National Convention of Aug. 29 in Lagos due to anti party activities and other serious infractions.
“Kwankwaso is no longer a member of our party, cannot be its presidential candidate in 2027 and Shendam needs to know this,” he said.
Agbo said the party was not however, averse to any proposition that could bring true dividends of democracy to ordinary Nigerians.
“Every Nigerian is interested in having a true democracy that is all inclusive, what we have now is far away from democracy.
“So, if there is a proposition by opposition elements to ensure that democracy is installed, why not?.
“However, that proposition must be given a good thought, considered by the founder and other founding members of our party,” he noted.
He added that such proposition must also be considered by the National Working Committee led by him, and not by Kwankwaso and his Kwankwassiya group.
Agbo said: “Anything that will make Nigerians witness democracy is accepted but our certificate is independent.
“Our certificate cannot be subsumed into any other as being imagined by Kwankwaso, Buba Galadima, Shendam and their kwankwassiya group who are no longer members of our party.”
He also noted that the party leadership, though aware that there was the need to canvass for support from people and other political parties to win the election, believe that single-handedly, NNPP could deliver Nigeria in 2027 through a credible candidate.
He said that opposition parties leaders might wish to join NNPP as the party “walks toward rescuing Nigeria come 2027.”
“At the moment, we are not considering any merger and if there will be in any form of alliance (certainly not merger) at all, it should be with the NNPP, because Atiku is now retiring.
“So, he should support our party to enthrone a dependable leadership come 2027,” Agbo stated.
The leadership crisis rocking the NNPP started when a group loyal to its founder and BOT Chairman, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, suspended the party’s Presidential Candidate, Kwankwaso.
Similarly, a faction loyal to Kwankwaso also announced expulsion of some national officers over alleged anti-party activities.