NNPP Struggles Amidst Internal Power Struggle
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) gained significant political power after winning several seats in the 2023 elections, marking its first major success in nearly two decades. T
he party’s rise was largely due to the involvement of former Kano State Governor, Senator Musa Kwankwaso, who became their presidential candidate and helped them defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Kano governorship election, securing additional seats in the Senate, House of Representatives, and the Kano State House of Assembly.
However, tensions have arisen within the party, particularly between its founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, and Kwankwaso’s camp. The party, instead of focusing on future gains, is now divided, with each faction trying to take control.
After the resignation of Professor Rufai Alkali, both sides created parallel executive bodies. The Kwankwaso-led group, headed by Dr. Ahmed Ajuji, suspended Dr. Aniebonam and his supporters, while the faction led by Dr. Agbo Major, loyal to Aniebonam, retaliated by suspending members of the Kwankwaso faction, including Governor Kabir Yusuf of Kano.
Both groups have obtained conflicting court orders to assert their leadership claims, but neither side seems to be respecting these legal decisions. In a move to further distance themselves from Aniebonam, Kwankwaso’s faction changed the party’s logo, a move approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on July 12, 2024. This action infuriated Aniebonam’s group.
The Kwankwaso faction justified the logo change by stating that the old logo caused confusion during the last elections and needed to be simplified for better recognition on ballots. Aniebonam, however, criticized INEC for approving these changes, accusing Kwankwaso’s group of violating a court order by holding a convention and pressuring INEC officials to participate.
Aniebonam, who founded the party in 2001, expressed regret for welcoming Kwankwaso and his supporters, claiming that they had derailed the party’s original mission of improving Nigeria. He declared the recent changes in the party’s logo and constitution as invalid, stating that he still holds the certificate used to register the party.
In response, Kwankwaso’s camp dismissed Aniebonam’s claims, asserting that INEC followed the proper procedures and that Aniebonam and his allies are no longer party members due to their behavior. They argued that no one, including the founder, is above the party’s constitution.
INEC defended its decision, stating that the changes were made through due process and denied fueling the party’s internal conflict. The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has stepped in to mediate the crisis, but it remains uncertain how effective their efforts will be in resolving the ongoing disputes within the NNPP.
