Ahead of the 2027 general election, the Founder and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, has declared that the party will not repeat what he described as the mistake it made with its 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Aniebonam said the party’s eventual presidential flag bearer would not receive an automatic ticket but would undergo a rigorous screening process to assess competence, loyalty and commitment to the party.
He made the remarks in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lagos.
His comments came a day after the NNPP announced that it had uploaded a placeholder presidential candidate on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal in compliance with electoral guidelines for the 2027 polls.
According to Aniebonam, the party already has three serious presidential aspirants who will be screened before one is eventually adopted to replace the placeholder candidate.
“We experienced significant delays due to prolonged litigation aimed at preventing Kwankwaso from hijacking the NNPP.
“INEC also compounded the situation through its failure to comply promptly with court orders”, he said.
He added that the internal crisis allegedly fuelled by Kwankwaso and members of the Kwankwasiyya movement led to the defection of some party members.
“However, the NNPP remains undeterred. We are confident that our aspirants will make their mark in the states and other elective positions”, he said.
Aniebonam disclosed that the party’s forthcoming emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting would deliberate on the timetable for its conventions, concessions for certain categories of aspirants and reduced nomination fees.
He also said the NEC would consider ratifying plans to institute legal action against INEC over what he described as the commission’s delayed compliance with court orders.
The NNPP founder criticised the electoral body, expressing disappointment that an institution headed by a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria allegedly failed to obey clear judicial directives.
He claimed that although the court ordered INEC to recognise the party’s leadership within 72 hours and file an affidavit of compliance within 14 days, the commission took more than 90 days to comply.
Aniebonam appealed to members who left the party during the leadership crisis to return, assuring them of a transparent and level playing field during the party’s primaries.
“Our nomination fees are reasonable, and we have made concessions for women and persons with disabilities. We are also not opposed to strategic alliances with like-minded political parties in areas where such cooperation will benefit our candidates and members”, he said.
He added that the NNPP remained open to discussions with political parties that share similar ideologies.
“We are grateful to God that Kwankwaso did not succeed in hijacking our party. He betrayed us, and we leave him to God”, Aniebonam said.