The National Working Committee of the New Nigeria People’s Party has denied the alleged suspension of Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, from the party, stating that there are no grounds for such action.
On Tuesday, a faction of the NNPP led by Major Agbo announced the suspension of the governor for six months.
This decision came due to his failure to attend a disciplinary committee hearing to address an alleged violation of the party’s constitution.
The announcement of Yusuf’s suspension was made by the National Secretary of the faction, Ogini Olaposi, during a press conference in Abuja.
Olaposi said, “We called this media conference to brief you on developments resulting from the recent invitation extended to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano to appear before a disciplinary committee to explain infractions on the party constitution.
“Nigerians need to know the position of the New Nigeria People’s Party following the failure of the governor to appear before the Disciplinary Committee to explain the reason(s) His Excellency who was elected on the party’s platform and a national figure of NNPP participated in an illegal/factional national convention of NNPP held by the Kwankwasiya group at Wuse 2 in Abuja on Saturday, April 6.
“With the approval of the Board of Trustees of New Nigeria Peoples Party and the unanimous decision of the National Working Committee of our great Party, His Excellency, Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State is at this moment suspended for six months with immediate effect.”
In response, NNPP’s acting National Chairman, Dr. Ahmed Ajuji, stated in an interview with journalists on Thursday in Abuja that the governor remains a bona fide member of the party.
He stated “For record purposes, Gov. Yusuf is a bonafide member of our great party and a worthy ambassador of NNPP whose leadership and unprecedented achievements in Kano State is a thing of pride to us, and as such we have no any reason to suspend him. In essence, the NNPP did not suspend our governor.”
Ajuji characterised those asserting the suspension of Yusuf from NNPP for participating in the party’s national convention as political jesters, mercenaries, and individuals seeking attention as irrelevant.
He continued “The jokers played back a cracked record and poorly scripted movie of suspension of the Kano State Governor as their sponsors and target audience no longer listen to the endless suspension and expulsion of Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the National Leader of the party.
“These political jobbers were also hired to scuttle Yusuf’s election at the Tribunal, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court falsely claiming that he was not duly and properly nominated by the party as its candidate for the 2023 general election.
“To God be the glory the Supreme Court Justices in their wisdom saw through their lies, and agreed with us and the INEC that Yusuf is a bonafide member of NNPP.”
The acting National Chairman of NNPP remarked that these individuals had previously filed numerous lawsuits contesting the party’s leadership. Recently, they attempted to disrupt both the NEC meeting and the National Convention held on April 5 and April 6.
Ajuji continued “The court being a temple of justice and beacon of hope for sustainable democracy in Nigeria dismissed many of their suits, including the one which judgement was given earlier today.
“A Court even ordered them to stop parading themselves as members of the party, but because they don’t have any regard for the law, they continue in their contemptuous activities.
“The group of these expelled members was the participation of NNPP candidates in various elective positions in which the party won a governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly seats which boosted the electoral fortune of NNPP, unlike before when such positions were traded off for personal gains. The party is aware of its sponsors and their aim of destabilising it. They have failed as NNPP keeps growing from strength to strength, expanding its frontiers in the nation’s political space.
“The party will not dissipate energy responding to political hirelings if not for the wide media reports accorded them as they seek public attention to remain relevant and carry out the agenda of their sponsors. In other climes, these comedians would not receive such attention as they are clearly in contempt of the court that restrained them from parading themselves as members of the party, organising press conferences and issuing press statements. Soon, the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on them.”
He affirmed that NNPP is dedicated to bringing about positive change in Nigeria, mirroring the effective governance demonstrated by Governor Abba Yusuf in Kano State.
