The the National Working Committee (NWC) of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has advised the Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Alex Otti, to be wary of dragging himself into the internal affairs of the Party.
The NWC in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Abdulsalam Abdulrazaq, was reacting to the visit of the former Presidential candidate of the Party in the 2023 national elections, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to Governor Otti on Saturday November 9, 2024.
Noting that the Governor as a democrat who has respect for rule of law and workings of the judiciary urged him to disregard whatever Sen. Kwankwaso could have discussed with him in relation to the recent Abia State High Court judgment.
Recall that an Uzuakoli division of the Federal High Court in Abia State presided over by Justice C.U. Okoroafor on Friday November 1, 2024, issued a compelling order for the immediate takeover of the NNPP by the BOT chaired by the Founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam.
The Court took the decision based on a motion on notice with suit No: HUZ/11/2024 brought before it by three members of the NNPP in Abia State who were seeking a solution to the ongoing leadership crisis in the Party.
The judgment specifically compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all other relevant electoral bodies to henceforth accept candidates from the BOT until proper congresses are convened and relevant organs of the party such as the NWC, Zonal, Local Government and Ward Executive Committees are constituted.
The judgment further directed the Abia State Independent Electoral Committee (ABSIEC) and all other states where preparations are underway for local council elections to accept a list of candidates presented to them only by the Aniebonam led BOT.
It also directed for the immediate organisation of congresses to fill and activate all relevant organs of the party and submit the same to INEC.
By this, Kwankwaso who had earlier been expelled from the NNPP through an internal crisis remains expelled.
In swift reaction to the Kwankwaso’s visit to Governor Otti which the NWC described as a panic to the recent Court judgment and a disguise to complain over judgment stressed that the verdict was borne out of kwankwaso’s betrayal of trust, cheating and greed.
The NWC in an emergency meeting today Sunday November 10, 2024, reiterated that Sen. Kwankwaso was long expelled from NNPP together with his Kwankwasiya group members and so those that were introduced to Governor Otti along side with Kwankwaso as NNPP executives are not known to the Party.
The statement read: “The National Working Committee (NWC) noted with concern the recent visit of Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso an expelled former presidential candidate of NNPP to the Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Alex Otti on Saturday 9th November 2024 as invalid and deceitful.
“The attention of the NWC of the NNPP has been drawn to the introduction of Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiya group members that accompanied him to Abia state government house as members of National Executive of the NNPP as an act of irresponsibility and impersonation forthwith
“We hereby reiterate that Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was long expelled from our party NNPP together with his Kwankwasiya group members and so those that were introduced alongside Kwankwaso as NNPP executives are not known to the party.
“We are reliably informed that some of the issues discussed by Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on camera with the Abia State Governor were connected with the recent judgment of Abia State High Court which compelled INEC to handover the administration of the Party to the Board of Trustees (BoT) according to the Party constitution 2022 as amended.
“We wish to advise Governor Otti not to allow himself to be dragged into the internal affairs of the NNPP by the expelled self acclaimed National leader who is hell bent to disorganise the Party ahead of 2027 General Election.
“We recognise the fact that the Governor of Abia State is a Democrat who has respect for rule of law with understanding that the judiciary is an independent organ of government different from the executive.
“Therefore, adhering strictly to the democratic principle of separation of power is very important to urge the Governor to disregard whatever Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso could have discussed with him in relation to the recent Abia State High Court judgment.
“The compelling order is a judgment binding on INEC; INEC as the agency of government who has the mandate to regulate and control political parties and activities in Nigeria.
“If senator Rabiu musa Kwankwaso is not happy with the judgment he knows where to go and not the executive arm of the government in disguise
“It is worthy to note that the New Nigeria People’s Party was registered in 2002 and senator Rabiu musa Kwankwaso joined in the year 2022. Since his coming, the Party has been in crisis orchestrated by him. Investigation has revealed that the expelled Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was constantly orchestrating a crisis to make the Party unstable to pave the way for him to steal the intellectual property of Dr. Boniface Aniebonam and by 2024 he wants to hijack the party to become his personal estate.
“We are surprised to note that Senator Rabiu musa Kwankwaso in his opening remark to addressing new Police officers from Abia State told them to ‘Have Fear of God.’
“If Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso had ‘Fear of God’ Kano State would have been in peace, he would not have tried to hijack NNPP and would not have tried to use it as his merchandise.
“We are still wondering why his invitation to Abia State noting that there are more responsible characters in Nigeria under the circumstances
“Let it be on record that Senator Kwankwaso and his unemployed characters have been expelled from NNPP and it is only INEC that has the locus to appeal against the compelling judgment of the court.
“And for the avoidance doubts and emphasis INEC is under a compelling order of the court to hand over the administration and management of the Party to the Board of the New Nigeria People’s Party led by Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam, the Chairman Board of Trustees and life member of the Board.
“Dr. Aniebonam Boniface Okechukwu is equally the Founder of the New Nigeria People’s Party in accordance with the Constitution of the Party 2022 as amended.
“Senator Rabiu musa Kwankwaso, Buba Galadima and all others in his kitchen cabinet are not members of the Board of Trustees known to the judgment of the court.
“Abia State High Court is a Court of coordinate jurisdiction with federal high courts of Nigeria.”
The statement further re-emphasised that Sen. Kwankwaso is gone for good, noting that he and his unemployed characters and political traders cannot even appeal against the compelling judgment.
“This simply means that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, etc are gone finally and peace has returned to the Party,” the statement concluded.