The Rabiu Kwankwaso faction of the New Nigeria People’s Party has rejected the Tuesday convention that led to Dr. Agbo Major’s election as the party’s new National Chairman.
The faction, led by Kwankwaso, insists that the convention was illegitimate and that Dr Ajuji Ahmed remains the only recognised National Chairman of the party.
During the convention, Major’s faction also saw the emergence of other key officials, including Mr Oginni Olaposi as National Secretary, Chief Felix Chukwurah as Deputy National Chairman (South), Mr. Adetoyese Omokanye as National Treasurer, Alhaji Babayo Muhammed as Deputy National Chairman (North), and Abdulrasaq Abdulsallam as National Publicity Secretary.
These new executives were urged to lead with integrity and dedication, with the party’s Board of Trustees Secretary, Mohammed Babayo, stressing the importance of unity and hard work in strengthening the NNPP.
However, the Kwankwaso faction, represented by NNPP Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson, dismissed Major’s faction as a renegade group.
Johnson emphasised that Dr Ajuji Ahmed is the only National Chairman recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies, arguing that Major’s faction was attempting to mislead the public.
“They are no longer members of the party. They were expelled, and their faction has been continuing contrary to court rulings. There is a subsisting injunction from the High Court of Abuja, which has removed their powers. They are now tools in the hands of opposition parties, particularly the APC,” Johnson stated in an exclusive interview with The
He added that Major’s faction had undermined the position of the NNPP by supporting the APC in various matters, including local government elections and the Supreme Court ruling on the election of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the only governor from the party.
Johnson also criticised the legitimacy of Major’s election, pointing out that both Kwankwaso and other key party figures were absent from the convention.
He further emphasised that the NNPP’s true logo includes an education book and cap, with red, white, and red colors, a symbol that Major’s faction was reportedly misrepresenting.
The dispute stems from an Abia High Court ruling on November 1, 2024, which ordered the reconstitution of the party’s organs, from the ward congress to the national convention, and mandated INEC to recognise the new board.
The Chairman of the NNPP’s BoT, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, affirmed that the board had followed the court’s directive to reposition and reconstitute the party’s executive at various levels.
In his first address after being elected, Major called for unity within the party and urged all aggrieved members to return and contribute to the party’s development.
“I thank the delegates for their confidence in me. I will not take this trust for granted. We are committed to repositioning the party for the 2027 elections, and I urge all elected officials to work toward this goal,” Major stated.
He also made it clear that there would be no tolerance for any behaviour falling short of the party’s standards, pledging to issue directives for implementing these objectives through the National Secretary.