The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) is embroiled in a power struggle, with the national leadership denouncing the purported suspension of a senator and three House of Representatives members by the Kwankwasia faction. The suspensions, announced by Kano State NNPP chairman Hashimu Dungurawa, targeted Senator Kawu Sumaila, Ali Madakin Gini, Sani Abdullahi Rogo, and Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, accusing them of anti-party activities. The national leadership, however, swiftly rejected the suspensions, labeling them a “ruse” orchestrated by a group with no legitimate authority within the party. This incident highlights the escalating conflict between the national NNPP and the Kwankwasia group, led by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, over the party’s control and direction.
At the heart of the dispute lies the question of legitimacy and authority within the NNPP. The national secretary, Oginni Olaposi, asserts that Dungurawa, the Kano State chairman who announced the suspensions, is aligned with the Kwankwasia faction, a group that no longer holds any official power within the party. Olaposi emphasizes that Kwankwaso himself has been expelled from the NNPP and therefore lacks the standing to take any action on the party’s behalf, including suspending members. This expulsion, according to the national leadership, stems from the termination of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NNPP and the Kwankwasia movement after the 2023 general elections. This agreement, which initially facilitated Kwankwaso’s entry into the NNPP, is now considered null and void, further solidifying the national leadership’s claim of Kwankwaso’s lack of authority.
The national leadership argues that the MoU’s termination effectively removes any power or influence the Kwankwasia group previously held within the NNPP. This termination, they claim, is further substantiated by a court ruling from the Abia State High Court, which not only dissolved the agreement but also reinstated Dr. Aniebonam Boniface Okechukwu, the party’s founder and Board of Trustees chairman, as the legitimate leader of the NNPP. This court decision, according to the national leadership, underscores their claim to authority and further delegitimizes any actions taken by Kwankwaso or the Kwankwasia group. The national leadership insists that the suspended members remain full-fledged members in good standing within the NNPP and that a vote of confidence has been passed for all elected National Assembly members.
The national NNPP is actively working to counter the narrative presented by the Kwankwasia faction. They have appealed to the public, particularly in Kano State, to disregard any statements emanating from the Kwankwasia group, deeming them misleading and false. This appeal extends to key figures in the Nigerian political landscape, including the President, the National Assembly leadership, and other political parties. The national leadership is adamant that the Kwankwasia group’s actions are merely attempts to sow discord and confusion within the NNPP and the broader political sphere. Their consistent message is that Kwankwaso and his allies are no longer affiliated with the party and have no right to interfere in its internal affairs.
The national NNPP frames Kwankwaso and Elder Buba Galadima, another prominent figure in the Kwankwasia movement, as mere representatives of their respective groups during the period the MoU was in effect. Now that the agreement has been terminated, the national leadership argues, they are acting as “interlopers,” attempting to exert influence they no longer possess. The national leadership portrays their actions as a desperate attempt to maintain relevance within the political arena, even though their formal association with the NNPP has been severed. This characterization of Kwankwaso and his allies as illegitimate actors is central to the national leadership’s strategy to consolidate its authority and discredit the opposing faction.
This internal conflict within the NNPP reflects a broader struggle for control and influence in Nigerian politics. The ongoing dispute not only jeopardizes the party’s unity but also raises concerns about its ability to effectively participate in the political process. The national leadership’s efforts to marginalize the Kwankwasia faction and solidify its own authority underscore the high stakes of this power struggle. The future trajectory of the NNPP hinges on the resolution of this internal conflict, and the outcome will likely have significant implications for the political landscape in Kano State and potentially beyond. The situation remains fluid, and the struggle for control within the NNPP will continue to unfold in the coming months.
