… Kwankwaso, co-travellers remain expelled
In what seems to be a victorious end to the struggle to recover the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) from the hands of Kwankwaso, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) on Tuesday November 5, 2024, celebrated the return of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to Dr. Boniface Aniebonam led Board of Trustees (BoT).
The celebration was hinged on the recent judgment by 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 National Working Committee (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.
To this effect, going forward, the internal crisis in the NNPP ceases while the ownership and running of the Party reverts to Aniebonam (the Founder and life member of the BOT) and the Board.
Celebrating the victory at a world press conference held at the NAGAFF Village in Apapa, Lagos, Aniebonam displayed the registration certificate of the NNPP saying it has always been in his custody.
He also displayed a copy of the court judgment confirming that by the Abia State Federal High Court judgment the NNPP has been returned to him (Aniebonam) who is also the Founder of NAGAFF.
Aniebonam said he founded the NNPP in 2002 and ran it for 20 years before granting Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso the permission at his request to fly the flag of the Party in the 2023 elections as the presidential candidate.
He criticized Kwankwaso, Elder Buba Galadima, Barrister Ladipo Johnson, and their associates who he described as unemployed characters for their attempts to hijack the Party, “a fight to reap where you did not sow,” he said.
Worthy of note is that the INEC over the months allegedly showed complicity in the ongoing crisis.
The NNPP Founder maintained that the court judgment is compelling and definitive in handing the Party over to his BOT, adding that neither Kwankwaso and his co-travellers nor any other individual aside the INEC has the loco standi to appeal this judgment.
“This is mandamus order, therefore it is compelling. We appreciate Kwankwaso but there is no reason for what is happening now. Stop all these distractions; there must be leadership,” he stated.
Pointing out that the judgment cannot also be vacated, he however, stated that if the INEC does not respond to the Court directive, then the BoT would be forced to send a presentation of their documents in readiness to be handed control of the Party.
Aniebonam reiterated that Kwankwaso and his group have been expelled previously from the Party and remain expelled.
He said: “Kwankwaso and his unemployed characters cannot even appeal because they have been expelled under the internal crisis of the Party. They can’t go to court for this matter, only INEC can do that.”
“By virtue of the court order from Abia State Kwankwaso has been expelled from the Party,” he stressed.
Continuing, Aniebonam lamented that he has spent almost N800 million since this case started, but was elated that the Party has been recovered, and called on all the BoT members, elected senators, legislators and the media to come and take over the Party.
His words: “This Party has been recovered by virtue of the mandamus order given by the Court. Please note that we are children of God, victory is surely ours as we only came to separate fights and must not be rewarded with blood stained hands.
“It is our hope that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Buba Galadima shall all respect themselves as citizens of Nigeria going forward.
“The BoT, the media, all the elected senators, honourable members of the Federal House of Representative and State Assembly under the canopy of the New Nigeria People’s Party, I want to say to you people my children come to me in Lagos and take over your Party.
“You are the pride and face of the New Nigeria People’s Party.”
Asked if what he would do should Kwankwaso have a repentant heart and returns like the prodigal son, Aniebonam simply said that the BoT will be the ones to take a decision on that.