The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has welcomed the possible defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing his anticipated exit as a relief and a necessary closure after what it termed a period of betrayal and internal sabotage.
In a statement released on Sunday in Lagos by the NNPP National Secretary, Oginni Olaposi, the party openly accused Kwankwaso of undermining the NNPP’s structure, violating internal protocols, and dragging the party through unnecessary legal turmoil.
Olaposi’s remarks follow Friday’s resignation of APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, which has stirred speculation of behind-the-scenes political maneuvering to accommodate Kwankwaso in the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Kwankwaso not only attempted to hijack the NNPP but also exposed the party to avoidable litigations,” Olaposi said, referring to the recent reversal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which reinstated the NNPP’s original logo after it was controversially altered to resemble the emblem of Kwankwaso’s personal political movement, the Kwankwasiya.
Though Ganduje’s resignation was officially linked to health reasons, Olaposi suggested political calculations might be involved, while maintaining that the NNPP would not interfere in APC’s internal affairs. However, he stressed the party’s obligation to speak out due to Kwankwaso’s continued association and perceived efforts to dominate NNPP operations.
“We find it difficult to believe that Kwankwaso, who is still struggling to control the NNPP, is also negotiating a return to the APC,” Olaposi added, referencing past comments by Ganduje that the APC remains open to receiving defectors.
Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, was expelled from the NNPP over alleged anti-party activities. Olaposi said his departure to the APC would finally free the NNPP to rebuild without his overbearing influence.
“He betrayed the trust of the party and its founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam