The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has accused its 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, of betrayal and warned that his continued makes an attempt to manage the get together have brought about deep inside crises.
In a press release issued Sunday, June 29, in Lagos, the get together’s Nationwide Secretary, Oginni Olaposi, stated it will be a “enormous reduction” if reviews of Kwankwaso becoming a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) change into true.
“Kwankwaso betrayed our belief in him by making an attempt to hijack the get together from its founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, who facilitated his free ticket for the 2023 presidential election,” Olaposi stated.
The NNPP’s response adopted the latest resignation of APC Nationwide Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, which has sparked hypothesis that Kwankwaso could also be plotting a return to the ruling get together forward of the 2027 elections.
Though Ganduje cited well being causes for stepping down, Olaposi stated the timing raised questions on a doable backroom deal involving Kwankwaso.
“Kwankwaso nonetheless insists he’s a member of our get together even after his expulsion for alleged anti-party actions,” Olaposi stated.
In keeping with the get together, Kwankwaso not solely tried to grab management of NNPP but additionally dragged it into pointless authorized battles.
“Kwankwaso didn’t solely attempt to hijack the NNPP but additionally made the get together undergo avoidable litigations,” the assertion famous.
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One main supply of battle was Kwankwaso’s transfer to interchange the get together’s official brand with that of his private political model, the Kwankwasiya Motion.
“The NNPP brand that he modified to the Kwankwasiya Motion brand has simply been modified to our brand by INEC, after years of controversy and litigations,” Olaposi stated.
He questioned claims that Ganduje’s exit was designed to ease Kwankwaso’s defection to the APC, saying: “We’ve causes to doubt the continuing propaganda that Ganduje left APC to allow an alleged negotiated association with Kwankwaso forward of the 2027 presidential election.”
Nonetheless, the NNPP stated it will be glad to see Kwankwaso lastly go.
“We might be elated if any proposed deal between APC and Kwankwaso turned a actuality. The ruling get together is in a greater place to deal with the previous Kano state governor’s baggage,” Olaposi stated.
He described Kwankwaso’s actions as a betrayal of the NNPP’s goodwill and values, and urged the general public to grasp that the get together was now centered on reclaiming its identification and transferring ahead.
“Let the APC take him if they need,” he concluded. “We’re carried out.”
