In a significant development, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has officially expelled Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate. This decision comes after Senator Kwankwaso declined to participate in proceedings before the party’s Disciplinary Committee.
The expulsion of Senator Kwankwaso took place at the NNPP’s National Convention held in Lagos on August 29. This action was prompted by allegations of severe anti-party activities and the mismanagement of party and campaign funds.
To address these allegations, the NEC established a Disciplinary Committee and extended an invitation to Senator Kwankwaso, giving him a five-day window to defend himself. However, despite the committee convening on Thursday, August 31, Senator Kwankwaso did not appear before them.
In a recent development within the party, Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq, the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, issued a statement on Tuesday. He announced the NEC’s decision to expel Senator Kwankwaso from the party with immediate effect, citing his failure to respond to the disciplinary committee’s invitation.
Abdulrasaq stated, “The NEC convened in an emergency session on Friday, September 1, and unanimously resolved to expel Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from NNPP due to his refusal to appear before the disciplinary committee, despite receiving a written invitation. Furthermore, the former presidential candidate, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, will face inquiries related to financial misconduct, specifically regarding the mismanagement of public funds.”
The internal turmoil within the NNPP initially surfaced when the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), aligned with Senator Kwankwaso, suspended the NNPP founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, and the National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Agbo Major, on August 24. This move was a response to the expulsion of Senator Kwankwaso’s loyal supporters from the party.