The New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Bola Tinubu administration of deliberately destabilising the party through legal and administrative manipulation. The crisis within the NNPP has intensified as two rival factions vie for control, with one led by former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiya Movement, and the other headed by Dr Boniface Aniebonam and Dr Agbo Gilbert Major. Following their expulsion in 2023 for alleged anti-party activities, Major and Aniebonam have remained defiant, pursuing legal action across multiple courts. Their persistence paid off when the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama issued a directive compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Major-led National Working Committee (NWC).
Despite the Major faction not holding primary elections and not being listed in the official membership register submitted to INEC by the Kwankwaso-aligned NWC under Bala Yunusa Muhammed, INEC has granted them access to its candidate nomination portal for the 2027 general elections. This development has sparked outrage among NNPP leadership loyal to Kwankwaso. At a press conference held at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, Mohammed, the National Chairman of the Kwankwaso faction, expressed shock at INEC’s swift recognition of the rival group. He pointed out that INEC had previously assured his faction of collaboration and adherence to the party’s official structure.
Mohammed accused the APC and the current government of orchestrating the crisis, citing the sudden issuance of default judgments in lower courts in Abuja and Abia State. He stressed that such judgments cannot be valid without proper hearings for both parties, suggesting external interference. “It is widely understood that a judgment cannot be rendered without a fair hearing for both parties involved,” he said. “For such a judgment to be issued, it is evident that something is amiss. There are unseen influences at play, indicating that certain forces are behind these actions.”
He further explained that the NNPP emerged as the third most popular party in Nigeria after the 2023 general elections, making it a potential threat to the ruling APC. “They perceive our party as a threat and are attempting to instigate chaos within our ranks,” Mohammed stated. He accused the government of funding expelled members to create internal unrest. He also criticised INEC for acting prematurely, noting that the commission had previously committed to maintaining the status quo. “We are uncertain as to why they altered their position,” he said, adding that INEC should have waited for appeals to be resolved before making any decisions.
Mohammed emphasized that the expelled leaders are not registered members of the NNPP, as required by INEC’s electronic registration mandate with a May 10th deadline, which the party has complied with. “It is unacceptable to appoint someone who is not a member of the party to lead it,” he concluded. The ongoing legal and political battle within the NNPP is likely to shape the party’s future and influence Nigeria’s 2027 electoral landscape.
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