NNPP severs ties with Kwankwaso’s political movement

New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has officially severed ties with its iconic national leader and former Governor of Kano State, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso.

This follows the decision by the party’s hierarchy to truncate the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which the former leaders of the party signed with the Kwankwasiya Movement of Dr Kwankwaso.

It noted that the principles of the Kwankwasiya Movement are targeted at massaging the ego of its sole owner and not in line with the party’s policies of openness and inclusivity.

The crisis rocking the NNPP opened up the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party loyal to Kwankwaso, suspended founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam and the National Publicity Secretary, Dr Agbo Major on August 24, this year.

The new leadership under the chairmanship of Dr Agbo Gilbert Major, in the latest development, further announced its resolve to overhaul the party’s structures across all levels nationwide.

“The party confirmed its withdrawal from the Memorandum Of Understanding signed by it with the Kwankwasiya Movement and TNM insisting that the principles of these two groups are targeted at massaging the ego of its sole owner and so not in line with the party’s policies of openness and inclusivity.

“The party called on its numerous members and supporters to remain calm in the face of this brazen assault of the Kwankwasiya movement whose members were erroneously made to believe the party is sold to them and called on all aggrieved and displaced members who left for whatever reason to return home.

“The party resolved to overhaul its structures across all levels nationwide in the coming days and weeks.

It would be recalled that Kwankwaso was earlier, last month suspended and later expelled from the NNPP over alleged anti-party activities and disciplinary matters leveled against him over his recent romances with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and later a rumoured planned merger with the Labour Party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of projected run-off in the 2023 Presidential elections.

NNPP presently controls only one state, Kano, which it won after the 2023 General Elections.

It would be recalled that earlier, the NNPP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had expelled Senator Kwankwaso following his alleged refusal to appear before the party’s Disciplinary Committee.

The party’s 2023 Presidential Candidate, Kwankwaso, had been earlier suspended by the leadership at the National Convention on August 29 in Lagos.

Also recall that the National Executive Council, NEC of the NNPP set up a Disciplinary Committee and directed it to invite Kwankwaso to defend allegations of gross anti party activities and mismanagement of party/campaign funds within five days.

The NEC had warned that, failure to appear before the Disciplinary Committee, Kwankwaso would be expelled from the party in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution 2022 (as amended).

Consequently, the Acting National Publicity Secretary of NNPP, Mr Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq, said in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos, that the NEC had expelled Kwankwaso with immediate effect because of his refusal to honour the committee’s invitations.

Abdulrasaq said: “The NEC met in an emergency session on Friday, Sept 1. and resolved as follows:

“Following the refusal of Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to appear before the disciplinary committee which sat on Thursday, Aug. 31 after being duly invited in writing,  he is hereby expelled from NNPP with immediate effect.

“That the erstwhile presidential candidate, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso will be reported to appropriate quarters to answer questions on financial impropriety relating to mismanagement of public funds.”