The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has distanced itself from former Kano State Governor and ex-presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over his claim that he took Governor Abba Yusuf to meet some Supreme Court judges in 2019.
The party stated that Kwankwaso was not a member of the NNPP at the time the alleged incident occurred.
The clarification came from the party’s national leadership over the weekend. It rejected any connection to the allegations and urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to remove the NNPP’s name from any petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police on the issue.
In a statement signed by NNPP National Secretary, Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday, the party described reports linking it to the controversy as misleading.
“We are setting the record straight. Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was not a member of the NNPP in 2019 when he allegedly took Governor Abba Yusuf to some Supreme Court judges,” Oginni stated.
The statement added that Kwankwaso only joined the party months before the 2023 general elections, alongside figures such as Buba Galadima, Prof. Alkali, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, Prof. Hanga, and Governor Abba Yusuf.
The party also rejected claims that Kwankwaso founded the NNPP.
“Senator Kwankwaso was never among the founding members of the NNPP. The party was founded by Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam,” the statement said.
The NNPP further accused Kwankwaso of trying to take control of the party after joining, alleging that he altered the party’s logo and colours to align with the Kwankwasiyya movement without approval from the founder and Board of Trustees.
“It is unfortunate that Senator Kwankwaso tried to appropriate the intellectual property of the party’s founder for personal use,” the statement added.
The party recalled that a Kwankwaso-aligned faction challenged the convention that produced Dr. Agbo Gilbert Major as National Chairman and Oginni Olaposi Sunday as National Secretary. However, an Abuja FCT High Court dismissed the suit.
Reaffirming its position, the NNPP said Kwankwaso had already been expelled from the party.
“The National Working Committee resolved that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is no longer a member of the NNPP. He was expelled after the 2023 elections for gross misconduct,” Oginni stated, adding that some related matters remain under EFCC investigation.
The party stressed that Kwankwaso should no longer be referred to as the party’s National Leader.
It maintained that its recognised leadership includes 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.
