The National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ladipo Johnson, has resigned from the party amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Johnson announced his resignation in a letter dated May 4, 2026, which was made available to Punch on Thursday.
The letter was addressed to the chairman of NNPP Ward G1, Shitta/Ogunlana Ward, in Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State.
In the letter, Johnson said his resignation took immediate effect.
He wrote, “I am writing to formally resign my membership of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), effective immediately.”
Johnson expressed appreciation to the party for giving him the opportunity to serve in different capacities, including as National Auditor and National Publicity Secretary.
He said, “It has been a distinct honour to serve our party at the highest levels. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have contributed my quota to our collective vision, particularly during my tenure as the National Auditor and, more recently, as the National Publicity Secretary.”
The former NNPP spokesman also thanked members of the National Working Committee (NWC) for their support during his time in office.
He said, “My time serving on the National Working Committee has been rewarding. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to my colleagues on the NWC for their camaraderie and shared dedication.”
Explaining his decision, Johnson said the current political climate required opposition forces to unite under a broader platform.
He stated, “This decision stems from my conviction that the current political climate necessitates a broader national realignment of the opposition. I believe that at this juncture, my political journey must focus on fostering a more unified front to serve the overarching interests of our nation and its citizens.”
Although Johnson did not disclose his next political destination, sources within the NNPP told Punch that he was expected to join former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and other Kwankwasiyya leaders in the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
One source said the move was not surprising because of Johnson’s longstanding political relationship with Kwankwaso.
The source said, “He is obviously going to join Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso and Buba Galadima in the NDC. You know Ladipo has always been a great asset to Kwankwaso in the NNPP, particularly in terms of his wealth of experience as national publicity secretary.
“I heard there is an ongoing arrangement to bring him in to replicate the same publicity structure in the NDC or, at best, allow him to return to his base in Lagos to coordinate the party’s affairs in the South-West.”
The development comes days after the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Kwankwaso formally joined the NDC in Abuja.
