More crisis as NNPP expels Kwankwaso for disobedience

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The refusal of Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, to appear before the political party’s disciplinary committee has cost him his privileges as a member of the party.

By implication, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso who contested the 2023 presidential election under the aegis of the NNPP ceases to be a member of the party following his expulsion by the party’s leadership.

The National Executive Committee, NEC of NNPP on Tuesday, expelled the former presidential candidate following his alleged refusal to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee to answer queries over several allegations levelled against him.

Recall that the presidential candidate had been earlier suspended by the party’s leadership at the National Convention on August 29 in Lagos after the National Executive Council of the party set up a Disciplinary Committee to address his errings.

Upon its’ formation, the NEC directed the disciplinary committee to invite Kwankwaso to defend allegations of gross anti-party activities and mismanagement of party/campaign funds within five days.

The NEC also warned that should Kwankwaso fail to appear before the Disciplinary Committee, he would be expelled from the party in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution 2022 (as amended).

Consequent upon his refusal to honour the committee’s invitations, the acting National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, Mr Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq, in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos, said that the NEC had expelled Kwankwaso with immediate effect.

Abdulrasaq said: “The NEC met in an emergency session on Friday, September 1 and resolved as follows:

“Following the refusal of Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to appear before the disciplinary committee which sat on Thursday, August 31 after being duly invited in writing, he is hereby expelled from NNPP with immediate effect.

“That the erstwhile presidential candidate, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso will be reported to appropriate quarters to answer questions on financial impropriety relating to mismanagement of public funds.”

According to media reports, crisis began to rock the NNPP when a faction of the party and National Working Committee, NWC, loyal to Kwankwaso, announced the suspension of the NNPP founder and Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, Dr Boniface Aniebonam and the National Publicity Secretary, Dr Agbo Major amongst others on August 24.

The Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso-led faction of the NNPP while announcing their expulsion, accused the BoT Chairman, the National Publicity Secretary and others of anti-party activities.

While Aniebonam was accused of creating a parallel group within the party to cause disaffection in the NNPP, the Kwankwaso-led faction also appointed new national officers headed by Major as acting national chairman and Ogini Olaposi as acting National Secretary with 18 others

In a recent development, A Kano State High Court has declared as void, the suspension of the 2023 presidential candidate of the NNPP from the party.

Justice Usman Na’aana on Tuesday granted an interim injunction restraining Boniface Aniebonam, Agbo Major, and 16 other respondents from parading themselves as national officers or leaders of the party pending the hearing and determination of the motion of notice.

The judge also set aside “the purported suspension of Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as member of the applicant (NNPP)”.