Alhaji Sani Danmasani, National Vice Chairman, Northwest, of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has clarified that Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf is the party’s leader, not Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
In a statement on Tuesday, Danmasani said the party’s constitution recognizes the governor, as the only NNPP governor, as the official leader of the party.
He explained that Kwankwaso, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, no longer holds any leadership position following the expiration of the Memorandum of Association between the NNPP and the Kwankwasiya Movement.
“It is not even news that some key members of the Kwankwasiya movement, including Kwankwaso, were later expelled from the NNPP for anti-party activities,” Danmasani added.
The NNPP official expressed concern over media references to Kwankwaso as party leader, noting that it has caused confusion in ongoing political negotiations:
“We reiterate that negotiations for 2027 alliances with Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiya movement are okay but will be invalid if they are done purportedly on the NNPP platform. Only Dr Boniface Aniebonam, who is the founder and life member of the Board of Trustees, and the National Executive Committee led by Dr Agbo Gilbert can negotiate for the NNPP. Any other negotiations outside this are null and void and will not hold.”
He emphasized that Kwankwaso and his group remain expelled from the NNPP and can either join another party or float a new one:
“Kwankwaso and his group have the right as Nigerian citizens to negotiate to join any party of their choice but not as members of the NNPP. They were expelled and remain expelled. They should either join another party or float a new one.”
Danmasani also appealed to Kwankwaso to refrain from using the NNPP name to criticize the ruling government, insisting that President Bola Tinubu is not responsible for the country’s challenges:
“It is our belief that with the intervention of friends of Nigeria like America and Israel, Nigeria shall be great once again. The essence of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration is an acceptance that all were not well before Tinubu’s assumption of duty.”
The party official urged the media to maintain Kwankwaso’s correct designation as a former senator, former governor of Kano State, and 2023 presidential candidate of the NNPP, but not its leader, adding:
“It is our hope that the ongoing judicial review will compel INEC to update its records.”
