By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

Following alleged anti-party activities, the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Tuesday, suspended its presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. The party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) also dissolved its National Working Committee (NWC) and appointed a new one.

The suspension of Kwankwaso was part of resolutions after a crucial General Assembly in Lagos, Monday and Tuesday.

Kwankwaso was accused of short-changing the party, NNPP, by unilaterally entering into collaboration with presidential aspirants of opposition parties in the 2023 presidential election without authorization.

The opposition parties are the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), and Labour Party (LP).

According to the resolutions whose adoption was moved by Hon. Adeyemi Olusoja, Ogun State’s Yewa South Local Government Chairman and seconded by Mr. Abdullahi Nasamy, NNPP Kwara State Secretary, Kwankwaso has ceased to be recognized as a national leader of the party following his suspension.

NNPP’s BOT, however, reversed the suspension of the dismissal of national officers as well as the disolution of state chapters by the National Working Committee (NWC) announced days earlier.

The communique recalled that a clique of individuals in the system had unilaterally amended the NNPP Constitution without due process and authorization of the General Assembly, thus, infringing upon the party’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and violating the inalienable rights of the National Working Committee, NWC.

“BOT decided that material evidence in the public sector affirm that Senator Kwankwaso was involved in anti-party activities in various meetings, suggested political discussions with President Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi without authorization from the board. This has earned him 6 months suspension pending the outcome of investigations by the Disciplinary Committee.”

“About 8 states Chapters of the old NNPP were unceremoniously dissolved by the incompetent NWC. The letters of reinstatement of the suspended executive Chairmen of the various states issued by the Chairman of BOT in accordance with the Board’s inherent powers to call to order stands valid.”

“The BoT Chairman, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam resigned and a new BoT Chairman, Dr. Chief Tope Aluko was elected with Engr Babayo Muhammed Abdulahi as new BOT Secretary, while High Chief Tony Obioha was elected as BoT spokesperson.”

“BOT members take strong exception to Buba Galadima parading of himself as BOT Secretary. This conduct is in violation of the composition of the members of the BOT in accordance with our Constitution.”

“The NWC was declared incompetent due to attrition and failure of the members to follow the constitution and due process in filling the vacant positions. The NWC can no longer perform its role and is no longer relevant in the eyes of the law,” the communique stated.

Meanwhile, the BoT appointed and inaugurated new national officers headed by Dr. Agbo Major as acting National Chairman and Comrade Ogini Olaposi as acting National Secretary.

“Constitutionally, the nomenclature, ‘national leader’ is not in existence for a failed Presidential candidate. So, the Board moved that Engr. Rabiu Kwankwaso can no longer be referenced an National Leader. Ditto for state leaders”.

“The purported suspension of the Founder was a flagrant gross violation of the NNPP constitution such that it is tantamount to recklessness and irresponsibility on the part of the incompetent NWC.”

“Our Abuja office remains Plot 511, Herbert Marcaulay Way, Suite A1 to A3, Willian’s Plaza, Zone 4, Wuse, Abuja.”

“The BOT insisted that the avoidable violation of MOU between NNPP on the one part and Kwankwasla, TNM and NAGAFF on the other has no other choice than to withdraw from the partnership. It is therefore to state clearly that the MOU have been rendered invalid,” the communique read.