November 17, (THEWILL) — The lingering crisis in the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, is boiling over as political parties prepare for the conduct of congresses and conventions ahead of the 2027 general election.
Following a request letter from a factional Chairman and Secretary of the party, Dr. Ahmed Ajuri and Mr Dipo Olayoku, respectively, notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of an impending party congress, another faction claiming to be the authentic leadership of the party has warned the Commission against honouring the request.
The duo purportedly signed the letter sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on behalf of the Senator Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso-led Kwakwansiya Movement.
National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Founder/Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT), Dr Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam, urged INEC to ignore the request because the signatories are illegal entities.
The National Secretary of the party, Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday urged INEC to disregard the “illegal letter”, describing it as an affront to the valid FCT judgment on NNPP with Suit No FCT/HC/5518/2024.
Drawing from the recent FCT High Court judgment, the two signatories noted that Ajuji and Olayoku are meddlesome interlopers, insisting that the FCT High Court of the 3rd April, 2025 has long settled it.
Oginni stated further: “It is our responsibility as a political party with respect for the rule of law to expose the fraudulent efforts of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso’s group led by Dr Ajuji to lure and mislead INEC to participate and attend their proposed illegal meetings. It is our hope that INEC would act swiftly by distancing itself from the proposed illegal congresses.”
At the weekend, a caucus of the party again urged INEC to disregard “purported notice” of congress.
Sunday said that the proposed convention letter, which was signed on-behalf of Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso-led movement, was done by those he described as a pressure group within the party.
He said, “It is also a statement of fact that the FCT High Court in a judgment delivered by His Lordship, Justice M.A.Hassan on April 3 dismissed the case instituted by the Ajuji-led faction group of Kwankwaso against Aniebonam-led NNPP.
“Consequently, the Ajuji-led group by the effect of the FCT Court judgment of the April 3 are the judgment’s debtors, while the Chief Aniebonam-led NNPP becomes the judgment’s creditors,” Sunday said.
Sunday described the action as being in total defiance of the December 2024 and January 2025 valid congress and the convention of the Aniebonam-led executives of NNPP who were the judgment’s creditors.
He said that a letter had been submitted to INEC to distance itself from the Congress, hoping that the commission would act swiftly.
Recall that on April 3, 2025, Justice Hassan dismissed a suit filed by a faction loyal to Kwankwaso, which sought to challenge the legitimacy of the party’s current leadership under Aniebonam and National Chairman, Dr Agbo Major.
The case, filed by Ajuji and 20 others, aimed to invalidate the authority of the NNPP’s Board of Trustees and its executive leadership, including NNPP factional National Secretary, Oginni Olaposi; Deputy National Chairman, Chief Felix Chukwurah; and legal practitioner, Tony Obioha.
The claimants had asked the court to restrain these officials from convening meetings, conducting congresses or presiding over the party’s national convention, arguing that they had been expelled from the NNPP.
However, Justice Hassan ruled that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit, affirming that internal party disputes—such as leadership and membership issues—are beyond judicial intervention.
Meanwhile, Kwankwaso has maintained his membership and loyalty to the party, saying that he has no plans to leave NNPP.
The party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election made the clarification at the party’s National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja last week. Kwankwaso said the NNPP was performing well in Kano and other states, adding, “We are very happy about that.” He acknowledged that many people attended the meeting to hear from him, following recent fake news reports that he would be making a critical decision about his future with the NNPP.
“But let me take this opportunity to tell you that we have our party, and we are comfortable. We are happy. “We are ready to do whatever it takes because we are not in a hurry,” he said.
Kwankwaso emphasised that any negotiation regarding the 2027 general election would be a collective decision, as he believed in the party’s supremacy.
“If there will be any negotiation, it will be collective. It will not be only for the negotiators but also for the entire members of this NNPP family.
The prolonged crisis has caused Senator Kawu Sumaila and two Representatives, Kabiru Usman and Abdullahi Sani, who represent Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya and Karaye/Rogo federal constituencies of Kano, respectively, to defect from the party to the governing All Progressives Congress, APC.
On Thursday last week, 13 members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the NNPP reaffirmed their loyalty to the party, denying reports suggesting their planned defection to other political parties.
In a joint statement, the 13 lawmakers reaffirmed their total loyalty to the NNPP and its leadership, stressing that their interactions with members of other parties should not be misconstrued as plans to defect.
The statement read: “We, the Members of the House of Representatives who proudly identify with the Kwankwasiya Movement and belong to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), wish to reaffirm our total and unwavering loyalty to our great party and its visionary leadership.”
Those who signed the statement include Ghali Mustapha Tijjani, Barr. Rabi’u Yusuf, Abdulhakeem Kamilu Ado, Hassan Muhammad Danjuma, Barr. Muhammad Bello Shehu, Datti Yusuf, Sani Wakil, DanKawu Idris, Garba Diso, Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe, Hassan Hussain, Mukhtar Umar Yarima, and Muhammed Garba Chiroma.
“We wish to categorically debunk these unfounded rumors and urge the general public, our supporters, and well-meaning Nigerians to disregard such misleading claims.
“The rumours are nothing but the handiwork of detractors who are threatened by the growing influence, unity, and resilience of the NNPP and the Kwankwasiya family, particularly in Kano State and across Nigeria.
“Let it be clearly understood that as lawmakers, our constitutional responsibilities demand constructive engagement with colleagues across party lines in the interest of national development.
“Our interactions with members of other political parties should not be misconstrued as disloyalty or an indication of defection. Rather, it reflects our commitment to bipartisan cooperation aimed at advancing good governance, national unity, and progress for all Nigerians.
“We remain steadfast in our allegiance to the NNPP and the Kwankwasiya ideology, which stands for justice, equity, inclusiveness, and people-centered governance. No amount of misinformation or propaganda will shake our faith in the movement or in the leadership.
“We reaffirm our collective dedication to promoting effective governance, quality education, accessible healthcare, youth empowerment, and improved living standards for every Nigerian.”
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
