The simmering cracks in the ranks of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) widened on Wednesday as the party held its elective national convention to elect new officials of the party in Abuja.
At the convention, the party elected Dr Agbo Major as its new National Chairman. However, major party figures, including Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and the party’s 2023 presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso were absent from the convention.
It is unusual for a political party to hold an elective national convention with the highest ranking elected official of the party and the supposed National Leader of the party absent from the event.
Meanwhile the NNPP convention, which lasted from Tuesday night until early hours of Wednesday, saw the election of several other party officials. Mr Oginni Olaposi was elected as the National Secretary, Chief Felix Chukwurah emerged as the Deputy National Chairman (South), while Alhaji Babayo Muhammed was elected as the Deputy National Chairman (North).
Others elected by delegates include Mr Adetoyese Omokanye as National Treasurer, Abdulrasaq Abdulsallam as National Publicity Secretary, Hajia Aisha Kade as the National Woman Leader, Chief Edward Ofomona as the National Youth Leader, and Omolara Johnson as the National Organising Secretary, among others.
The NNPP convention was attended by members of the party’s Board of Trustees, the National Working Committee, and all elected office holders of the party nationwide.
The NNPP had been enmeshed in leadership crisis, however following a judgment by the Abia High Court on November 1, 2024, which directed the NNPP Board of Trustees (BoT), led by founder Dr Boniface Aniebonam, to restructure the party from ward congresses up to the national level, the party began the process of electing new leadership.
The court in the judgement also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise the new party leadership that will emerge from such restructuring exercise.
Speaking at the convention, the BoT Chairman noted that, in compliance with the judgment of the court, the board of trustee has successfully repositioned and reconstituted its ward executive and zonal officers.
“Today, the board shall conclude its assignment through a national convention to elect and establish its national working committee to take charge of its administration and management.
“In carrying out these responsibilities, INEC and other security agencies were duly notified,” Aniebonam said.
With this turn of event it is uncertain what the future holds for Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and his political godson Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano state. Speculations are rife that the duo are negotiating their way into the ruling All Progressives Congress in the coming months.