The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has raised alarms over what it described as “mischief and blackmail” by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and his Kwankwasiyya group, accusing them of attempting to destabilize the party and its National Assembly caucus. The concerns were outlined in a statement issued by NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Gilbert Major, during a press briefing on Friday, December 6, 2024.
The NNPP expressed outrage at a letter purportedly sent by the Kwankwasiyya group to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, seeking the removal of Deputy Minority Leader Rt. Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki. The party dismissed the letter as illegitimate, citing a recent Abia High Court ruling that returned the NNPP’s leadership to its Board of Trustees (BoT), chaired by Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam. “This desperate attempt to undermine the House leadership by the Kwankwasiyya group demonstrates their ignorance of parliamentary procedures and internal party dynamics,” Dr. Major stated.
The NNPP reaffirmed that the individuals involved in the alleged actions, including Ladipo Johnson and Alhaji Ali Abacha, have been expelled from the party and lack authority to act on its behalf. It also condemned the group’s activities as reckless, disruptive, and illegal, calling on security agencies, particularly in Kano State, to intervene to prevent any escalation of tensions.
Dr. Major reiterated the party’s stance on the expulsion of Senator Kwankwaso and other Kwankwasiyya leaders, emphasizing that their actions and correspondence no longer hold validity within the NNPP. He further disclosed that Hon. Madaki and Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, along with other NNPP representatives in the House, had publicly denounced their affiliation with the Kwankwasiyya group.
The NNPP also cautioned against inviting Hon. Madaki and Hon. Rurum to face disciplinary actions by the Kwankwasiyya faction, calling such moves illegal and nullified by the court’s judgment.
The party confirmed the submission of petitions to security agencies, urging them to monitor the activities of Kwankwaso and his associates. Dr. Major called on the Speaker of the House to act only on letters officially signed by recognized party leaders, including the BoT Chairman and the party’s National Chairman and Secretary. “We urge security agencies to ensure the Kwankwasiyya group adheres to societal rules and respects the court’s ruling, which affirmed their expulsion from the party,” Dr. Major concluded.
The NNPP reaffirmed its commitment to upholding democracy and ensuring peace within the House of Representatives, vowing to resist any actions aimed at causing confusion or destabilization.