The Digest:
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has officially disowned former Governor of Kano State and 2023 presidential candidate Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso over allegations that he took Governor Abba Yusuf to visit Supreme Court judges in 2019. In a statement by National Secretary Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday, the party clarified that Kwankwaso was not a member of the NNPP in 2019, having joined only months before the 2023 elections. The NNPP distanced itself from the controversy, urged the Nigerian Bar Association to remove its name from any related petition, and reiterated that Kwankwaso has been expelled from the party for "gross misconduct" following the 2023 elections. The statement also denied Kwankwaso's status as a founding member, crediting Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam as the legitimate founder, and accused Kwankwaso of attempting to "hijack" the party and alter its symbols without consent.
Key Points:
- The disavowal seeks to legally and publicly separate the party from a potentially damaging judicial scandal.
- It reinforces an internal power struggle, affirming the authority of the party's original founders over later entrants.
- The move aims to protect the party's reputation and integrity ahead of future electoral activities.
- It formally severs ties with a once-prominent figure, reshaping the party's public identity and leadership structure.
- The timing addresses ongoing legal and investigative scrutiny while attempting to control the political narrative.
Sources: NNPP Official Statement
