Following the recent declarative of Abia state High Court on the leadership tussle which had engulfed the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) since the last general election, chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party, Dr Boniface Aniebonam has declared that the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and members of the former National Working Committee (NWC) including Buba Galadima are no longer reliable in the party and so have become inconsequential under the current scheme of things of the party.
The Abia State High Court had last week in it's judgement on the matter mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hand over the party’s management to the BoT. This followed an order of Mandamus suit filed by the BoT asking the State High Court to issue a declaratory order mandating INEC to transfer the party’s management to the BoT, which was expeditiously granted.
Dr. Aniebonam, who is the chairman of the Board of the party disclosed this at a press conference held on Tuesday in Lagos, he stated that Senator Kwankwaso, Galadima and members of the defunct NWC, mainly made up of members of the Kwankwasiya Group masquerading themselves as the real NNPP are now inconsequential as the party is presently constituted
While displaying the original certificate of incorporation of the party and a copy of the judgement before newsmen further noted that the compelling order of the court mandated INEC to exercise its regulatory authority and control of political parties in Nigeria as enshrined in relevant laws.
According to him, the BoT had in reaction to the plethora of court cases involving the party and its members across various states of the federation including Bayelsa, Anambra, Rivers States, among several others, which were slowing down the wheel of progress of the party written the INEC to transfer the party’s management to its BoT, but regretted that INEC refused to invoke its powers under the law, which left them with only one choice of going to court.
Aniebonam, who also took a swipe at Kwankwaso, Galadima and their legal adviser, Mr Ladipo Johnson for questioning the jurisdiction of the Abia State High Court in handling the case, noted that as a legal practitioner, Johnson ought to have known that the Federal High Courts and State High Courts have coordinate jurisdiction on the same matter.
He also dismissed insinuations that Kwankwaso and some members of the NWC are planning to appeal the declaratory judgment, insisting that having been expelled long ago, they lack the locus standi to do that. He also assured that even if INEC, which was joined in the suit and which made representations in the process of the case decides to appeal, the BoT is ready to follow the matter to the Supreme Court, which has the final say on the matter.
He however disclosed that a meeting of the party’s BoT has been scheduled to hold November 8, 2024, where certain decisions would be taken in line with the compelling judgment of the court. He also urged all Senators, House of Representatives and State Assembly members elected under the party’s platform whom he described as the true face of the party to come to Lagos and take over their party.
Aniebonam, who expressed shock over the decision of Senator Kwankwaso to take to this wrong part, despite his pedigree having been a two-time governor of Kano State, a Senator and former minister of defence, urging him and Buba Galadima to respect themselves as old and statesmen and advised them to go and rest.
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