The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has opened up on the status of Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and Rabiu Kwankwaso within the party.
The National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, said both Yusuf and Kwankwaso remain members of the party.
Johnson, who made this disclosure during an interview with News Central on Monday, 10 February, 2025, said that only the Ajuji Ahmed-led faction, recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has the authority to speak for the party.
This clarification comes amidst a suspension saga that has been unfolding within the party.
“INEC, for the sake of argument, INEC has the NNPP, as in Dr. Ajuji Ahmed as chairman, Ladipo Johnson as publicity secretary, NNPP, New Nigeria People’s Party. That is what is recognized by law today. That party has not expelled or suspended Abba Kabir Yusuf or Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. A party recognized by the Constitution and the Electoral Act must be one as registered by INEC, right? So they’re not a party, but group, whatever you want to call them.
“Dr. Boniface Aniebonam was one of the founders of NNPP. Kwankwaso, Bubagaladim, Ladipo Johnson, et cetera, joined only in 2022. One year before 2023 elections, issues started. We got to a stage where Dr. Aniebonam now said, I am the founder and I’m overruling decisions of NEC or National Working Committee. And we said, no, suspend him. Even Kwankwanso did not know he was going to be suspended, as it were. So that is how we got to the problem,” he said.
Rabiu Kwankwaso faction recently rejected the convention that led to the election of Dr. Agbo Major as the party’s new National Chairman.
The convention, which was held at the RockView Hotel in Apapa, Lagos State, was reportedly attended by delegates and officers of the party at national and state levels.
