Ahead of the Supreme Court judgement on the Kano governorship election petition, factional groups of the New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP has disowned Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano state, saying he was not properly elected as the party’s candidate.
The party has also urged security agencies to pursue the faction led by the presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, over the recent protests in Kano.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the NNPP’s factional stalwart, Agbo Major, asserted that violence and killing are not part of the NNPP manifesto, urging Kano residents to pursue peace.
According to him, “After a comprehensive investigation, the party uncovered that the orchestrated actions were coordinated by Musa Kwankwaso and led by non-Kano indigenes—Dipo Johnson, Kawu Alli, and Onu—all expelled members of NNPP.”
The party emphasized that the tribunal and Appeal Court rulings, asserting Governor Abba Yusuf’s non-membership, resulted from non-compliance with the party’s constitution.
Major said Dipo Johnson, Kwankwaso’s spokesperson, is not a registered NNPP member and has been hired to incite protests.
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“We invite security agencies to investigate Dipo Johnson and his cohorts, clarifying that they do not represent NNPP.
NNPP distances itself from the incitement of masses and attacks on the judiciary, calling for a thorough investigation.
“We attribute our party’s misfortunes to Kwankwaso’s high-handed approach, leading to non-compliance with our party’s constitution and electoral laws, prompting our withdrawal from the MOU and ensuing legal action.”
Major attributed NNPP’s misfortune to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s high-handedness, hindering party members from registering as per the law.
“Our party upholds the sanctity of Nigeria and is committed to ensuring the safety of lives and property as guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution.
“Our Great Party, founded by Boniface Anebolum, categorically asserts that Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is not its founder. We advocate for legal redress options and reject the notion of self-help in addressing matters.
“Our party denounces the deliberate mischief of expelled members presenting themselves as protest leaders, specifically Dipo Johnson, Kawu Ali, and Onu.”
But in a swift reaction, Dipo Johnson described the group as “ expelled members of the NNPP,”
Johnson, speaking for the Kwankwaso group, disowned claims by Major and his group that the Governor was not properly elected as the party’s candidate.
He stated that ” Tope Aluko and some ex-state chairmen conducted a press conference in Abuja to falsely state, as a form of propaganda, that H.E. Abba Kabir Yusuf was not a member of the NNPP as at the time of the election and that His Excellency, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso was dismissed from the party.”
He said, ” It has come to our notice that certain expelled members of the NNPP, which include Tope Aluko and some ex-state chairmen, who are sponsored elements, are conducting a press conference in Jabi, Abuja to falsely state as a form of propaganda, that H.E. Abba Kabir Yusuf was not a member of the NNPP as at the time of the election and that His Excellency, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso is dismissed from the party.
“These allegations are false and inaccurate. We state that the Kano State Governor was a bona fide member of the NNPP at all material times and that we have confidence in the Supreme Court of Nigeria that justice will be done.
“These hired/paid hands who seem to be lackeys in the hands of the APC national chairman, Ganduje, seem to have “sold their souls” and will do anything for pecuniary gains at the expense of the Nigerian electorate.
“We remind the general populace that Chief Boniface Aniebonam, one of the founders of the NNPP, recently spoke out in favor of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and asked that his election be upheld. Therefore it is a mystery that some of his loyalists would stoop so low as to become hired hands to misinform Nigerians.
Johnson stated that these “expelled” party members were sponsored elements to cause disaffection within the party.
He, therefore, urged that Nigerians to ” ignore the false statements by these enemies of the Nigerian electorate.”
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