NNPP rejects Kwankwaso’s 2019 claim, sets record straight

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has publicly dissociated itself from SRabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State and erstwhile presidential candidate of the party, following his claim that he took Governor Abba Yusuf to meet some Supreme Court judges in 2019.

The party said Kwankwaso could not have acted in the name of the NNPP at the time, stressing that he was not a member of the party in 2019 when the alleged incident reportedly took place.

The NNPP’s national leadership made the clarification at the weekend, rejecting any attempt to link the party to the controversy and calling on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to immediately remove the NNPP’s name from any petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police over the matter.

In a statement signed by the party’s National Secretary, Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday, the NNPP described reports tying it to Kwankwaso’s comments as false and misleading.

“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.

According to the party, Kwankwaso only joined the NNPP shortly before the 2023 general elections, alongside other political figures including Buba Galadima, Prof. Alkali, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, Prof. Hanga, and the incumbent Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf.

The NNPP also dismissed claims that Kwankwaso played any role in the formation of the party.

“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,” the statement said.

The party further accused Kwankwaso of attempting to take control of the NNPP after joining, alleging that he unilaterally altered the party’s logo and colours to align with his Kwankwasiyya political movement, without approval from the party’s founder or the Board of Trustees.

“It is sad that Senator Kwankwaso attempted to convert the intellectual property of the founder of NNPP to his personal use,” the statement added.

The NNPP recalled that a faction aligned with Kwankwaso had previously challenged the legitimacy of a party convention that produced Dr. Agbo Gilbert Major as National Chairman and Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday as National Secretary. The case, the party noted, was dismissed by a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

Reaffirming its position, the NNPP said Kwankwaso is no longer a member of the party, having been expelled after the 2023 elections.

“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,” Oginni said, adding that related issues are under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.

“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 declared.

The party maintained that its recognised leadership remains Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam as Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Agbo Gilbert Major as National Chairman, and Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday as National Secretary.