NNPP speaks out on Kwankwaso's suspension
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) has refuted the alleged suspension of Rabiu Kwankwaso, the party's presidential candidate for 2023.
Ladipo Johnson, NNPP's national auditor, said so on Wednesday during a press conference at the party's national headquarters in Abuja.
Mr. Johnson, a former Kwankwanso Presidential Campaign Council spokesman, said the suspension was null and void.
A faction of the party led by a former Chairman of the Board of Directors (BoT), Boniface Aniebonan, suspended Mr Kwankwaso for six months on Tuesday for alleged anti-party activities after a parallel meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC ) in Lagos.
He also appointed a former national publicity secretary of the party, Major Agbo, as interim national president.
But Mr. Johnson said that Mr. Aniebonam and Agbo had been suspended on August 24 for three months for indulging in unhealthy acts before being subsequently expelled from the party.
He added that the NEC party, during its Tuesday meeting in Abuja, supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), took some decisions, including the election of new national officials, the change of the logo of the party and the expulsion of Mr. Aniebonam. and Agbo.
"Isn't it funny that all these people, suspended or expelled, gather somewhere and claim to have suspended Kwankwaso and also disbanded the NWC?
“The pranksters also appointed a CTC made up of people who ceased to be party members under our constitution.
“Was the CENI present at the meeting? Did they write the INEC? Who and who signed the letter?
"Isn't it laughable that Major Agbo, who announced the suspension of former presidents, the expulsion of two of them and the dissolution of certain states, is now allegedly 'head' of their interim committee," Johnson said. .
He said it was unfortunate that some people reduced party politics and administration to big jokes.
“The news that a person will sit down somewhere and assume certain powers is not acceptable in a democracy.
"We are using this medium to assure our supporters across the country that there is no substance to this story.
“Kwankwaso remains the face of the party, has not been suspended, and the NWC under Ali remains intact,” he said.
Mr. Johnson, however, admitted that Mr. Kwankwaso had been invited to meetings by President Bola Tinubu on certain issues, saying such meetings were far from anti-party activity.
He said that while Mr. Kwankwaso always asks permission before attending such meetings, no conclusion has so far been drawn from such meetings.
He also denied the allegation that Mr. Kwankwaso hijacked members who were part of the party before joining his movement in February 2022.
Mr. Johnson, however, said the party leadership would do their best for an eventual reconciliation.
Also speaking, Oluwatosin Odeyemi, Chairman of the NNPP State Presidents Forum, said the alleged suspension of Mr Kwankwaso was a policy of bitterness.
READ ALSO: Court Judgment: Kano Governor Kwankwaso Become Spiritual, O...
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) has refuted the alleged suspension of Rabiu Kwankwaso, the party's presidential candidate for 2023.
Ladipo Johnson, NNPP's national auditor, said so on Wednesday during a press conference at the party's national headquarters in Abuja.
Mr. Johnson, a former Kwankwanso Presidential Campaign Council spokesman, said the suspension was null and void.
A faction of the party led by a former Chairman of the Board of Directors (BoT), Boniface Aniebonan, suspended Mr Kwankwaso for six months on Tuesday for alleged anti-party activities after a parallel meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC ) in Lagos.
He also appointed a former national publicity secretary of the party, Major Agbo, as interim national president.
But Mr. Johnson said that Mr. Aniebonam and Agbo had been suspended on August 24 for three months for indulging in unhealthy acts before being subsequently expelled from the party.
He added that the NEC party, during its Tuesday meeting in Abuja, supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), took some decisions, including the election of new national officials, the change of the logo of the party and the expulsion of Mr. Aniebonam. and Agbo.
"Isn't it funny that all these people, suspended or expelled, gather somewhere and claim to have suspended Kwankwaso and also disbanded the NWC?
“The pranksters also appointed a CTC made up of people who ceased to be party members under our constitution.
“Was the CENI present at the meeting? Did they write the INEC? Who and who signed the letter?
"Isn't it laughable that Major Agbo, who announced the suspension of former presidents, the expulsion of two of them and the dissolution of certain states, is now allegedly 'head' of their interim committee," Johnson said. .
He said it was unfortunate that some people reduced party politics and administration to big jokes.
“The news that a person will sit down somewhere and assume certain powers is not acceptable in a democracy.
"We are using this medium to assure our supporters across the country that there is no substance to this story.
“Kwankwaso remains the face of the party, has not been suspended, and the NWC under Ali remains intact,” he said.
Mr. Johnson, however, admitted that Mr. Kwankwaso had been invited to meetings by President Bola Tinubu on certain issues, saying such meetings were far from anti-party activity.
He said that while Mr. Kwankwaso always asks permission before attending such meetings, no conclusion has so far been drawn from such meetings.
He also denied the allegation that Mr. Kwankwaso hijacked members who were part of the party before joining his movement in February 2022.
Mr. Johnson, however, said the party leadership would do their best for an eventual reconciliation.
Also speaking, Oluwatosin Odeyemi, Chairman of the NNPP State Presidents Forum, said the alleged suspension of Mr Kwankwaso was a policy of bitterness.
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