The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has washed its hands off Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
It insisted that the decision to join the APC is his personal move and not that of the party.
Naijaonpoint reports that the party’s National Secretary, Dr Ogini Olaposi, made the clarification in Lagos on Monday while reacting to Kwankwaso’s announcement that he and his Kwankwasiya Movement were ready to pitch their tent with the ruling party.
Olaposi said Kwankwaso’s declaration only confirmed what the NNPP had maintained all along, that he was no longer part of their fold.
“At last, we have been vindicated. All negotiations by any party with Kwankwaso should be done in his individual capacity,” he stated.
The NNPP scribe added that the party could now focus on rebuilding after what he described as the “crisis and litigations that Kwankwaso and his followers brought to the NNPP.”
Olaposi stressed that the NNPP has nothing against forming alliances with other parties, but such decisions would be taken collectively by its leadership and members, not by individuals.
“The NNPP has nothing against the ruling party, and if at any point before the 2027 general elections we think we should enter into alliance with APC or any other, it will be decided by all members.
“For now, we are putting our house in order nationwide, consolidating our structures and reconnecting with the people,” he added.
End of the Kwankwasiya Pact
According to Olaposi, the partnership between the NNPP and the Kwankwasiya Movement ended immediately after the 2023 general elections.
“The crisis began because, rather than leave peacefully, they tried to hijack the party. We can’t wait to see them at another party,” he said.
He also argued that Kwankwaso’s political influence had waned since his fallout with the NNPP.
“Kwankwaso has no political party. His political value dipped after betraying the NNPP, which gave him a free platform for his presidential ambition. Most of his core followers in Kano had already joined the APC long before now,” Olaposi declared.
The NNPP warned Nigerians and political groups not to fall for any claim that Kwankwaso speaks on behalf of the party.
“Any negotiation in the name of NNPP is null and void because they remain expelled from our party,” Olaposi said.
Olaposi also criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for delaying the upload of the details of the party’s new executive produced at a court-ordered convention that ushered in Dr. Agbo Major as the new national chairman.
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