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Tag: NNPP

  • Kano gov, eight Reps, 44 LG chairmen dump NNPP

    Kano gov, eight Reps, 44 LG chairmen dump NNPP

    • 21 House of Assembly members, others also exit
    • Cite internal crises, leadership disputes
    • Former party’s flag removed from Govt House

    After weeks of speculations, Kano State Governor  Abba Yusuf yesterday formally terminated his membership of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP),in “the best interest of the people” of the state.

     He pulled out of the party with eight members of the House of Representatives , 21 members of the State House of Assembly and 44 Local Government Chairmen of Kano State.

     Their destination is the All Progressives Congress (APC) which, in the last one year, has also drawn into its fold seven other governors -Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom State), Peter Mbah (Enugu State), Douye Diri (Bayelsa State), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers State),Agbo Kefas (Taraba) and Caleb Muftwang (Plateau)- national and state legislators  and other high profile politicians.

     Yusuf and his allies are expected to declare for the APC in due course.

     The governor’s spokesman, Sunusi Bature, broke the news of his and others’ resignation from the NNPP to reporters in a statement in Kano.

     He said the governor communicated his resignation  in a January 23,2026 letter to the NNPP chairman in Diso-Chiranchi Ward, Gwale Local Government Area.

     “I write with a deep sense of gratitude to formally notify the leadership of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) of my decision to resign my membership of the party, with effect from Friday, 23rd,January 2026″,Bature quoted his principal as saying in the letter.

    The governor expressed appreciation to the party for the platform given him to contest the 2023 election and its support all through  his political engagement with the NNPP.

    Read Also: NNPP gives Yusuf green light to leave, demands resignation letter

    His words: “I remain sincerely appreciative of the opportunity given to me by the party, its leadership, and members across Kano State to be part of its political journey since 2022, as well as the support, goodwill, and cooperation extended to me during my time in the party.”

    “After careful reflection, and without prejudice to the party’s capacity to resolve its internal challenges, I have come to the conclusion that my resignation is in the best interest of the people of Kano State.

    “In recent times, the party has been confronted with persistent internal challenges arising from leadership disagreements and ongoing legal processes, many of which are presently before the courts for judicial determination.

    “The growing disenfranchisement among party members has created deep divisions within the party structure, resulting in cracks that appear increasingly irreconcilable and have generated uncertainty at both state and national levels.”

    Hon. Kabiru Zubairu, the party’s secretary of Diso-Chiranchi Ward, acknowledged  receipt of the governor’s resignation and  praised him for his efforts in improving  the health, education  and economic sectors of the state.

    The NNPP scribe admitted the party’s ongoing crisis, saying “we have no option but to accept the departure of our most performing governor.”

    Sequel to the governor’s resignation, the flags of the NNPP which had adorned the Kano Government House were removed yesterday.

    The resignation is expected to trigger a major shake-up that could reshape Kano’s political landscape ahead of upcoming elections.

    It comes after the party gave him the green light to do so a few days ago.

    NNPP factional chairman in the state, Senator Mas’ud Eljibril, had asked  the governor to formally notify the “legally recognised” NNPP in writing before he joins the APC.

    “If the governor decides to leave the NNPP, it’s his choice but he has to do that according to the rules and regulations to the party. Ignoring this requirement will have future legal consequences,” Eljibril had said.

    However, Deputy Governor Aminu Abdulsalam, the Senator representing Kano Central District, Rufa’i Hanga, and Representatives Mukhtar Yarima (Tarauni), Abdulkarim Ado (Wudil/Garko), Sani Wakili (Minjibir/Ungogo), Tijjani Abdulkadir (Tofa/Dawakin Tofa) —have chosen to remain in the NNPP.

    Yusuf was for many years a close ally of NNPP national leader Dr.Rabiu Kwankwaso, whom he served as personal assistant and commissioner before being elected as governor in 2023.

    KPRA backs Yusuf’s resignation from NNPP

    Reacting to the development yesterday, the  Kano People’s Rights Alliance (KPRA), described the governor’s action as  courageous and people-centred.

    The coordinator of KPRA , Isyaku Lawal Tofa, said the gravity of the situation within the NNPP had  created irreconcilable divisions that “threaten the party’s future.”

    He said: “as the Governor stated, his decision to resign was made after careful reflection and is rooted in the best interests of the people of Kano State.

    “It is a decision taken not out of bitterness, but from a place of good faith, with a steadfast commitment to fostering peace and unity within the state.”

    He said the fact the  governor left the NNPP with so many national and state legislators as well as LG chairmen reflected a shared resolve to prioritise public service and effective governance over party allegiance in the face of internal party turmoil.

    The alliance asked political stakeholders in Kano State to engage in constructive dialogue and focus on resolving issues that hinder good governance, rather than deepening partisan divisions.

    He said:“It is essential that the focus remains on the needs and aspirations of the people, rather than on partisan conflicts that serve only to undermine the collective progress of the state. We commend Governor Yusuf for his visionary leadership and his unwavering commitment to the development of Kano State.

    “His achievements in infrastructure, urban renewal, health, education, and economic empowerment are testaments to his dedication to enhancing the quality of life for all citizens.

    “The KPRA stands ready to support the Governor in his future endeavors, as he seeks to navigate this new chapter in his political journey. As we move forward, it is crucial for all political actors to prioritize unity and collaboration in the quest for sustainable development and social cohesion in Kano State.”

  • NNPP gives Yusuf green light to leave, demands resignation letter

    NNPP gives Yusuf green light to leave, demands resignation letter

    Factional chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Mas’ud Eljibril, has urged Kano Governor Abba Yusuf to formally notify the “legally recognised” NNPP in writing before he joins the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The court ruled last year that the faction which uses a basket with fruits as its logo, being chaired in Kano by Senator Eljibril, is the authentic NNPP.

    Speaking at a press conference in Kano, Eljibril presented several court judgments to journalists, asserting that his faction is the authentic NNPP in Nigeria and Governor Yusuf remains his bona-fide member.

    “Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is still a bonafide member of the NNPP that has a basket with fruits as its logo. 

    “Secondly, we are calling on INEC to respect the judgments of all the courts that were delivered last year on this issue.

    “Lastly, I want to reaffirm that Abba Kabir Yusuf is still a member of the NNPP and we owe him respect. But if he wants to leave, he has the legal right to leave, but he has to formally tender his resignation to the party, which we are yet to receive formally.

    “We are still waiting for his formal resignation from our party. To be a member of any political party is an individual decision. If he decides to leave the party, it’s his choice but he has to do that according to the rules and regulations to the party,” Eljibril stated.

    The factional NNPP called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to also respect the court rulings.

    The party threatens that: “Ignoring this requirement will have future legal consequences, especially if a Supreme Court decision later confirms this legitimacy.”

    The rival NNPP faction that uses books as its logo on the other hand is facing its own internal battle that has led to the emergence of two state chairmen.

    As a consequence of the deepening crisis over Governor Yusuf’s defection to APC, the former NNPP Chairman Hashimu Dungurawa –a pro-Kwankwaso was sacked at the prompting of the Governor, who swiftly appointed Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya as replacement. 

  • NNPP disowns planned protest against INEC

    NNPP disowns planned protest against INEC

    The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has dissociated itself from a planned protest against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

    In a statement issued on Monday by its National Secretariat in Abuja, the party said reports linking it to the planned demonstration at INEC offices in Abuja and across the states were false.

    The statement was signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, Bamofin Ladipo Johnson.

    According to the NNPP, the protest was being organised by an “illegal body” falsely claiming to act on behalf of the party.

    It said the individuals behind the planned action are not members of the NNPP, citing a judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The party referred to Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1354/2024, decided on April 18, 2024, in which Justice Emeka Nwite affirmed that the group had ceased to be members of the NNPP following their expulsion by the party’s appropriate organs.

    The NNPP said the individuals had not appealed the judgment but were instead engaged in what it described as “forum shopping” in search of court orders without legal basis.

    “They go to the courts hiding the facts of the matter, and once the courts hear the correct story, they will discard them,” the statement said.

    The party reiterated that it is not involved in any protest against INEC and described those behind the planned demonstration as impostors.

    It also urged its members nationwide to remain calm and not be provoked, saying the alleged actions were aimed at distracting the party from its objectives.

  • *NNPP will not be outdone (First published October 20, 2024)

    *NNPP will not be outdone (First published October 20, 2024)

    No one thinks that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) state chapters are free of bickering and rancour. If the rancour appears subdued, or if party elders still command respect and exert tremendous influence on quarrelsome rank and file, it is because the party controls the national levers of power and distributes patronage. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) are not so lucky. Since they lost the presidential election last year, both the PDP and LP have been at once strident in opposition and wracked by guilt and rage. Last week, this column explored the tangential issue of electoral cooperation between the NNPP and LP, wondering why instead of tackling their identity crises and internal conflicts, they chose to focus on the more ambitious project of taking the presidency in 2027. The PDP, as nearly everyone knows, had sunk into crisis since 2015. It is now the turn of the two other opposition parties to confront their fates.

    While the cancer gnawing at the liver of the PDP has festered for nearly a decade, some three weeks ago, the tremor coursing through the body politic of the LP assumed monumental dimension. Now, the NNPP, an otherwise fringe party controlling only Kano State, will not be outdone. Party leaders, led by the pugnacious and vengeful Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, have managed against the run of play to furnish themselves not only an internal crisis but also a war. No party has a monopoly of internal crisis, not even the APC, let alone the naturally fractious PDP; but the NNPP is determined not to be a laggard. The Young Turks in the party, though still scheming in the shadows, and working in concert with a smattering of old and calloused hands, have signaled the start of a rebellion. Their goal is to either dissipate the influence of Dr Kwankwaso or overthrow his suzerainty altogether. They feel his overbearing presence too constraining, and his diktats, not to say his malice, bilious and anachronistic. They also empathise with the ‘helpless’ Kano governor Abba Kabir Yusuf whom they are secretly nudging to extricate himself from the stranglehold of the party leader. But they do not yet have the courage to challenge their mentor in open fight. They know a thing or two about the unappeasable Dr Kwankwaso, with a few of them having at one time or the other been scorched by his fury; and they know quite well that he does not take prisoners. For now, however, they will fight him secretly, and even hide behind the thin flak jacket of the governor.

    This is of course not the first time the NNPP, which was founded in 2002 by the Anambrarian Boniface Aniebonam, will be engaged in fratricidal conflict. Since its takeover by the Kwankwasiyya crowd in 2022, the party has been ill at ease. Last April, Mr Aniebonam accused Dr kwankwaso, who is now informally described as NNPP party leader, of hijacking the party, changing its logo and flag, and mutilating its constitution. But that initial fight was half-hearted and stalemated. A new chapter in the fight has now been opened. Unsettled by how the party leader has been riding roughshod over everyone in the party, particularly Gov Yusuf, a few party top shots reportedly schemed to throw off Dr Kwankwaso’s yoke. The alleged rebels refused to confirm the existence of any plot, but the state chairman of the party, Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa, zeroed in on a few of the alleged masterminds and suspended them from the party ostensibly for disrespecting the party, disloyalty, and abuse of power. They are the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, and the Commissioner of Transportation, Muhammad Diggol.

    Read Also: Tinubu laying strong foundation for long-term prosperity – Information Minister

    The story of the brewing revolt in Kano is, however, not the usual kind. Sources suggest that the so-called rebellion tagged ‘Abba Tsaya da Kafarka’, meaning, Abba stand on your feet, was plotted to put an end to the dominance and dictations of Dr Kwankwaso. The suspension of the two officials has since been rescinded, and both of them have disowned the plot, but the feeling persists around the seat of power in Kano that the party leader is unsparing and megalomaniacal. The party leader himself refused to comment on the matter, especially on the suspension of the two government officials, preferring instead that all inquiries be directed to the party chairman; but no one is deceived that his reticence means absolution. The plotters may have shriveled like worms on a hot plate, but everyone knows that it is a question of time before the silent war breaks into the open. The excesses of Dr Kwankwaso will make an open confrontation certain.

    Gov Yusuf is unlikely to join any rebellion now, regardless of how much Dr Kwankwaso needles him. Though it is clear to many Kanawa that the governor does not enjoy as much freedom as he would like, he would, however, continue to walk the tightrope for as long as is humanly tolerable. He has been made to inherit the party leader’s enemies, chief among whom is former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. But he has probably seen why his predecessor fell out with the party leader. Whether his education is complete on this issue or not, he will nevertheless be wary of fighting his benefactor openly. Two reasons will account for his restraint. Firstly, he won the Kano governorship poll by a wafer-thin margin, scoring only 52 percent that was controversially upheld by the Supreme Court. If he is keen on reelection, he will try his utmost to accommodate the eccentricities of his mentor and party leader.

    Secondly, Kano has an unenviable history of godsons fighting with and alienating their godfathers, as exampled by the late Governor Abubakar Rimi versus the statesman and NEPU legend, Aminu Kano. The end result of that open warfare did not bode well for the former governor’s political career. However, Dr Kwankwaso probably exaggerates his influence and power in Kano, and by overreaching himself too many times, he may already have compromised the reverence in which he is held. But Gov Yusuf will not want to find out whether he would be undone by an open warfare with his party leader. More, seeing how the SSG and Transportation commissioner ate crow last week, no one in public office in Kano will be eager to flex his muscles anytime soon. Discretion, they say, is the better part of valour. Borno, Katsina and Niger States are some of the very few states where godfathers enthroned godsons without acrimony or subsequent interferences. Kano and Rivers States could borrow a leaf from any of those three states had godfathers Kwankwaso and Nyesom Wike been made of subtler and more nuanced stuff.

  • NNPP bars Kwankwaso from seeking 2027 presidential ticket

    NNPP bars Kwankwaso from seeking 2027 presidential ticket

    The national secretariat of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has ruled out Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso from contesting the 2027 presidential election on its platform.

    The NNPP National Secretary, Ogini Olaposi, announced the decision in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos.

    Olaposi stated that the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 polls will be open exclusively to bona fide members who meet all qualification requirements. He added that Kwankwaso, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, will not have access to the platform for the next general election.

    Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, has yet to react to the development.

    Read Also: Tinubu prioritises welfare, equipment of Armed Forces, says Defence Minister

    According to the party’s leadership, only members who satisfy its criteria will be cleared to vie for the presidential ticket. The statement further affirmed that the NNPP will adopt a transparent, constitutional, and democratic process in selecting its 2027 flagbearer.

    The NNPP also stated that its 2027 presidential ticket is open to all eligible members, unlike in the 2023 election when the ticket was exclusively given to Kwankwaso.

    The party affirmed it is prepared to engage in alliances with like-minded political parties ahead of the 2027 elections.

    Olaposi said the party’s leaders believe the decision will strengthen the party’s unity and democratic integrity as it prepares for the next general election.

    The Nation gathered that NNPP is currently plagued by factional leadership disputes and multiple litigations, creating uncertainty over the validity of its structure and nominations ahead of future elections.

    There is an existing court judgment that recognises a particular faction of the NNPP different from the one led by Kwankwaso, it was learnt.

  • NNPP rejects court order reversing dissolution of Kano executives

    NNPP rejects court order reversing dissolution of Kano executives

    A faction of the national secretariat of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) loyal to Rabiu Kwankwaso has rejected an ex parte order granted by a Kano State High Court reversing the dissolution of its executive committees in the state. 

    A statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson, in Abuja described the purported order as “a farce” and an abuse of court process.

    He said the NNPP National Working Committee (NWC) had not been served with any court process and therefore considers the reported ruling as “an ordinary street rumour.”

    As a consequence of the deepening crisis over Governor Yusuf’s defection to APC, the former NNPP Chairman Hashimu Dungurawa –a pro-Kwankwaso was sacked at the prompting of the governor, who swiftly appointed Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya as replacement. Abiya’s appointment was even backed by the court which affirmed the dismissal of the former chairman.

    However, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in its response, described Dungurawa’s removal as a nullity. It went on to dissolve the entire Kano party executives at the ward, local government and state levels indefinitely, saying the action was in line with the NNPP constitution.

    Not relenting, the pro-Yusuf camp approached the Kano High Court, where Justice Nasiru Saminu, granted an order restoring the party’s executives at the state, local government and ward levels, which were earlier dissolved by the party’s NWC.

    Read Also: Kano NNPP leadership pits Yusuf against Kwankwaso

    But the party’s NWC is insisting that even if such an order exists, it would be legally defective.

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson said it was improper for a court to issue an interim injunction against a decision that had already been completed by a political party’s national leadership.

    “The court lacks jurisdiction to reverse an internal decision of the party,” he said, arguing that the Supreme Court has consistently held that the internal affairs of political parties are non-justiciable,” he said.

    The party also warned that if the reported injunction was confirmed, it would pursue legal remedies and petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) against any judicial officer found to have issued overreaching orders in breach of due process.

    Ladipo said: “The dissolution of Kano State executives at all levels therefore stands.”

  • NNPP rejects court order reversing dissolution of Kano executives

    NNPP rejects court order reversing dissolution of Kano executives

    A faction of the national secretariat of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) loyal to Rabiu Kwankwaso has rejected an ex parte order granted by a Kano State High Court reversing the dissolution of its executive committees in the state.  

    A statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson, in Abuja described the purported order as “a farce” and an abuse of court process.

    He said the NNPP National Working Committee (NWC) has not been served with any court process and therefore considers the reported ruling as “an ordinary street rumour.”

    As a consequence of the deepening crisis over Governor Yusuf’s defection to APC, the former NNPP Chairman Hashimu Dungurawa –a pro-Kwankwaso was sacked at the prompting of the Governor, who swiftly appointed Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya as replacement. 

    Abiya’s appointment was even backed by the court which affirmed the dismissal of the former chairman.

    However, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party described Dungurawa’s removal as a nullity. 

    It went on to dissolve the entire Kano party executives at the ward, local government and state levels indefinitely, saying the action was in line with the NNPP constitution.

    Read Also: JUST IN: NNPP appoints Abiya as Kano acting chairman amid leadership shake-up

    Not relenting, the pro-Yusuf camp approached the Kano High Court where Justice Nasiru Saminu, granted an order restoring the party’s executives at the state, local government and ward levels, which were earlier dissolved by the party’s NWC.

    But the party’s NWC is insisting that even if such an order exists, it would be legally defective.

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson said it was improper for a court to issue an interim injunction against a decision that had already been completed by a political party’s national leadership.

    “The court lacks jurisdiction to reverse an internal decision of the party,” he said, arguing that the Supreme Court has consistently held that the internal affairs of political parties are non-justiciable,” he said.

    The party also warned that if the reported injunction was confirmed, it would pursue legal remedies and petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) against any judicial officer found to have issued overreaching orders in breach of due process.

    Ladipo said: “The dissolution of Kano State executives at all levels therefore stands.”

  • JUST IN: NNPP dissolves Kano executive committees 

    JUST IN: NNPP dissolves Kano executive committees 

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has dissolved the party’s executive committees in Kano State from the state level down to the ward level.

    The decision was announced in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, who said the action was taken in line with the NNPP constitution.

    Johnson disclosed that caretaker committees to oversee the party’s affairs in the interim would be announced shortly.

    He added that the party leadership appreciated members who had served in various capacities at the state, local government, and ward levels, assuring them that their contributions to the growth of the NNPP were recognised.

    Read Also: Kano NNPP leadership pits Yusuf against Kwankwaso

    The move came amid rising tension within the party following reports of a planned defection by Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a development strongly opposed by the NNPP’s national leader, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.

    Kwankwaso had earlier warned party members against defection, insisting that political betrayal does not lead to lasting success.

    In a viral video from a recent party meeting, the former Kano State governor said he was not surprised by the alleged moves, stressing that history offers clear lessons to politicians who abandon the party.

    “I want to remind those who left us that nobody has betrayed us and succeeded. Political history is very clear on this matter. Those who think they can rise by betraying the people and the movement they came from should reflect deeply,” he stated.

    Kwankwaso also pointed to the large turnout of supporters at the gathering as evidence that the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement continue to enjoy strong grassroots support across Kano State.

  • Kano NNPP leadership pits Yusuf against Kwankwaso

    Kano NNPP leadership pits Yusuf against Kwankwaso

    • Two state chairmen fight over party
    • Ganduje invites Yusuf as APC is set to receive governor
    • Kwankwaso, loyalists to unfold agenda in two days, says NNPP

    A political feud has erupted between Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and his benefactor, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over the governor’s planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Both men, who are stalwarts of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, are fighting for control of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), the ruling party in Kano State.

    The crack in the NNPP widened yesterday, following the dismissal of the State Chairman of the party, Hashimu Dungurawa, a pro-Kwankwaso.

    Dungurawa’s expulsion, allegedly at the prompting of the governor, was announced by the executive members of his Gargari Ward in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area.

    Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya was appointed yesterday as the acting state chairman of the NNPP in Kano State.

    The NNPP State Executive Committee (SEC) loyal to the governor endorsed Abiya’s appointment at an emergency meeting at the party’s secretariat in Kano.

    The party’s Assistant Legal Adviser, Yusuf Mukhtar, announced Dungurawa’s replacement, citing the NNPP constitution.

    The development followed the submission of a formal resolution on Dungurawa’s sack by the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Executive Committee, which effected the decision taken by Dangurawa’s ward executives of the party.

    I remain state chairman

    Dangurawa has insisted that he remained the state chairman of the NNPP and that the party members were not joining APC.

    He said this while addressing reporters yesterday in Kano.

    Dangurawa said: “We are in our party (NNPP) and I remain the chairman. We are doing everything for the victory of our party. We don’t join issues with other political parties because the other party (APC) is not our own and we are not its members.

    “It was a joke because the proper procedure was not followed.

    “The procedure to expel a chairman of the party of a state doesn’t go that way. The procedure is that you convey your complaint or petition to the national secretariat of the party. The national leadership will call a meeting. From there, they will decide what should be done, whether to expel you or not. So, it is not from the ward.

    “But the ward executives of the party can sack a governor or a senator. But for an executive member like me, only the NEC can decide.

    “That decision should be taken to the NEC, not by an ordinary person or from the ward. It is just like your village head or ward head saying he has sacked your paramount emir. Will that happen? It can never happen.”

    He explained that anywhere his purported sack was coming from did not count “because it is useless”.

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    Dungurawa’s sins

    The resolution signed by 27 ward executive members that purportedly removed Dungurawa accused him of making “abusive and disparaging remarks” against Governor Yusuf.

    It was also alleged that a day before his sack, Dungurawa held a broadcast where he publicly labeled the governor’s plan to defect to the APC as a “betrayal” of the NNPP and the people of Kano.

    Dangurawa was accused of deliberately instigating internal conflicts and creating a rift between the governor and his benefactor, Kwankwaso.

    The ward executives also cited anti-party activities and his alleged failure to pay mandatory party dues, describing his conduct as detrimental to the unity and progress of the NNPP.

    The sack appears to be a proactive strike by the governor’s loyalists at the grassroots level who are set to move with the governor to the APC.

    Speaking for Kwankwaso

    The Nation gathered yesterday that Dungurawa’s opposition to Yusuf’s defection to APC is the position of Kwankwaso, a former governor of the state.

    In all his statements, the embattled chairman appeared to be acting as a protector of the Kwankwasiyya movement, publicly opposing the defection plan and stating that neither the party nor Kwankwaso approves of it.

    Ward resolution reaches national secretariat

    In a strategic move, the ward executives, who are often the first line of disciplinary action in Nigerian party politics, used their constitutional power to expel Dangurawa, technically stripping him of his membership and, by extension, his chairmanship.

    The ward leadership has forwarded the resolution to the local government, state, and national secretariats for further action, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    On Monday, Kwankwaso said he would address a press conference yesterday on the unfolding political situation in Kano, following threats by the governor’s camp that they were defecting to APC even without his approval or him. But he did not.

    But Dungurawa, speaking on Kwankwaso’s behalf, said: “The situation is improving because there is progress and definitely progress is coming and I assure you definitely by tomorrow latest (today) you will know the situation of things and the situation will remain where we are. And definitely, we shall work together with both parties and the government.”

    Dungurawa also claimed “Kwankwaso and the governor are working at the same direction.”

    He declined to disclose the discussion between Kwankwaso and the Speaker of the House of Assembly as well as other federal lawmakers in a meeting held at the NNPP leader’s residence in Kano yesterday.

    The Red Cap

    Dungurawa insisted that if Yusuf had left the NNPP or is not in agreement with Kwankwaso, he would not be seen wearing the red cap on his head anymore.

    “Have you seen Kwankwaso remove his red card? Did you see Abba Yusuf remove his red cap? Have you seen Abba Yusuf remove the flag of NNPP beside him? That has never happened. So take it or leave it.

    “They are working together for the victory and the betterment of our great state of Kano. Even if I tell you I want to go to Lagos, am I in Lagos?,” he asked reporters.

    Over 100 officials sign to defect with Yusuf

    The Nation gathered that more than 30 local governments chairmen, the majority of the state lawmakers, and other state government functionaries have appended their signatures on the list being circulated by the governor’s camp on the planned movement to APC. Kwankwaso, through the sacked chairman, had persuaded the officials in vain not to sign the document.

    Dangurawa yesterday insisted that “even if all the 44 local government chairmen have signed, it has nothing to do with the governor’s decision, because the borne of contention was the governor.

    When asked if the governor had said he was defecting to APC and if he would support the move, Dungurawa said: “We don’t pray for that.”

  • Yusuf’s planned defection to APC unsettles NNPP

    Yusuf’s planned defection to APC unsettles NNPP

    Moves by Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf to dump the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) has sparked unsettled the ruling party in Kano.

    The party’s national leadership, led by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a former governor of the state, is opposed to the move, labeling it a “gross betrayal” of the trust of Kano people who voted for the party that threw up Yusuf as governor in 2023.

    The governor’s defection bid has brought into the open the deep internal disagreement between the governor and his benefactor Kwankwaso.

    Both men and members of the NNPP belong to the Kwankwasiyya Movement. The possible defection plan has split the Movement into two camps, with some supporters backing the governor and urging him to defect, while others remain loyal to Kwankwaso.

    NNPP state Chairman Hashim Suleiman Dungurawa urged Yusuf to reconsider his plan, citing the party’s responsibility to the masses.

    At a news conference, Dungurawa added that the party has been begging those willing to leave to be patient with them.

    Some allies to Yusuf yesterday hinted that the governor is expected to formally announce his defection next month, potentially altering Kano’s political landscape.

    The Director-General of the Protocol Directorate of Kano State Government House, Abdullahi Rogo, claimed that the citizens of the state and voters have agreed that Yusuf and Kwankwaso should defect to APC.

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    Speaking in a viral video, Rogo, who is one of the trusted officials of the governor, disclosed that the planned defection of the two political heavyweights to APC follows a meeting with the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Jibril Isma’il Falgore.

    Rogo is urging both the governor and the leader of Kwankwassiya movement, Kwankwaso, to move together into the APC, looking at the gains of aligning the state with the centre.

    An APC chieftain, Imrana Muhammad, has concured with Rogo’s position, after revealing that they held a defection meeting with the Speaker and a faction of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.

    The NNPP in Kano state yesterday said the party at the state and national level and its national leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso would not defect to the APC.

    The Director-General, Media and Publicity at the Kano Government House and spokesman for the governor, Sanusi Bature, is also backing the decision of his Dawakin Tofa local government council caucus to follow the governor to APC.

    At a meeting with NNPP caucus, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Council Chairman, Anas Danmaliki, said the “Kwankwasiyya movement has split into two, the pro-masses and anti-masses.”

     According to him, those backing the governor are pro-masses and those against the governor’s planned defection are the anti-masses. “But me and all councillors we are wherever Governor Yusuf is”, he told the meeting.

    The party chair who briefed reporters on Monday agreed that there were moves of possible defection by some party members but Kwankwaso is kicking against it.

    Dungurawa disclosed that the party was doing everything within its power to persuade such members “to be patient and not defect to the APC.”

    It was also gathered that the governor has concluded consultations and would be joining the ruling APC alongside his cabinet members, local government council chairmen and other chieftains of the NNPP.

    A source said the has reached a deal with President Bola Tinubu and was ready to join APC without the endorsement of his benefactor Sen. Kwankwaso.

    “On behalf of the NNPP party in Kano State and at the national level, and all the segments of this blessed movement—such as CRC/Lafiya Jari/Kano Propa/Kwankwasiyya, our teeming youths and women, and patriotic citizens—I wish to inform you that we are aware of the developments happening here in Kano State concerning some individuals who intend to defect to the APC.

    “I want to make it clear that the Kano State party, the national party, and our national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, together with other leaders, do not approve of what is happening.

    “In fact, we did everything within our power to persuade them to be patient and not defect to the APC, because of our responsibility to them and our responsibility to the people of Kano; however, that has become difficult.

    “Therefore, on behalf of all of us collectively, we once again appeal to them, for the sake of Allah and the Prophet, not to leave this party and not to defect to the party that we have opposed and which the masses and other voters have rejected,” the state chairman said.

    Dungurawa said some members of the party were spreading rumors and trying to pit the governor against Kwankwaso.

    “At this point, I will like say nobody should append their names on any document as being circulated by mischief makers,” he said.

    A pundit yesterday told The Nation that if Yusuf defects, NNPP will lose its only sitting governor and weaken its national relevance.

    The defection move will consolidate APC’s power in Kano, impacting the 2027 elections also to the advantage of the President.