The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has strongly denied allegations by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that the federal government is responsible for the internal crisis rocking the party.
In a statement issued in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the NNPP’s National Secretary, Oginni Olaposi Sunday, described El-Rufai’s claims as “baseless and misleading,” asserting that all recent decisions taken within the party, including the expulsion of its 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and the suspension of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, were internal party matters with no external influence.
El-Rufai, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), had alleged that the ruling APC and the federal government were manipulating internal crises within opposition parties such as NNPP, Labour Party, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Reacting, the NNPP questioned the logic behind El-Rufai’s accusations, stating that disciplinary actions and leadership decisions within the party were the result of Kwankwaso’s alleged misconduct, not federal interference.
The statement also recalled that Kwankwaso approached NNPP founder Dr. Boniface Aniebonam in 2022 to use the party as a platform for the 2023 general elections. According to the party, Kwankwaso later hijacked the party structure, changed the logo and party colors to reflect his personal political movement, and allegedly diverted party funds without proper accountability.
Further allegations include shifting key decision-making processes to his private residence in Maitama, Abuja, and handpicking candidates without consulting established party organs.
NNPP also referenced an ongoing fraud investigation involving over N2.5 billion allegedly linked to Kwankwaso, asking if El-Rufai was suggesting that the federal government orchestrated those proceedings as well.
The party condemned what it described as a smear campaign and warned El-Rufai to retract his statement within 48 hours or face legal action for defamation.
“We will not allow our internal democratic processes to be ridiculed by politically motivated falsehoods,” the statement concluded.
The party made it clear that the federal government has no involvement in the expulsion of its 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, or the suspension of Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf.
In a statement from Abeokuta, Ogun State, NNPP’s National Secretary, Oginni Sunday, described El-Rufai’s remarks as baseless.
He accused the former governor of making false claims after recently leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
El-Rufai, who recently defected from APC to SDP, alleged that the ruling party was manipulating crises within opposition parties, including NNPP, Labour Party, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
However, NNPP dismissed these claims, questioning why El-Rufai would accuse the government of influencing decisions that were made within the party itself.
The statement also brought up past events, recalling how Kwankwaso allegedly pleaded with NNPP’s founder, Boniface Aniebonam, in 2022 to secure the party’s platform for the 2023 election.
It further accused Kwankwaso of mismanaging party funds and making unilateral decisions, such as changing NNPP’s logo and colors to those of his personal political movement.
NNPP also alleged that Kwankwaso moved the party’s decision-making process to his residence in Maitama, Abuja, sidelining key members while selecting candidates for the 2023 elections.
The party questioned whether the federal government played a role in these actions, including an ongoing fraud investigation against Kwankwaso involving over N2.5 billion.
Additionally, the party accused Kwankwaso and his allies of refusing to cooperate with its disciplinary committee and criticized his alleged attempts to hijack the party’s leadership.
It warned El-Rufai to retract his statement within 48 hours or face legal action for defamation.
