NNPP BoT rejects Kwankwaso’s April 2-6th convention, approaches Abuja High Court
…Youth group calls on Anibonam to intervene to save party
Joseph Irikefe
As the ongoing battle of supremacy between the owners of New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP) and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso who used the platform of the party to participate in the 2023 presidential election rages, the Board of Trustees of the party led by Dr Temitope Aluko has filed a suit before the Federal High Court Abuja to stop the proposed Congress/ Convention of the slated for 2nd to 6th of April, 2024.
The suit with number FHC/ABJ/ CS/ 327/2024 was filled on March 11, with an advance copy sent to INEC Chairman with a Covering letter from Barrister Monday Mawah of Templum Chamber advising the commission not to participate in the illegal Congress/Convention until the determination of the case in court.
Consequently, The Federal High Court Abuja has fixed April 16 for the hearing date of the matter before Hon. Justice Obiora Egwuatu, even as Advocacy Times gathered that INEC was duly served by the court Bailiff on Friday, March 28, 2024.
Our correspondent in Abuja gathered from The National Publicity Secretary, Abdulsalam Abdulrazaq that by The effective Service of the Suit before Hon. Justice Obiora Egwuatu on INEC on Friday, March 28, is another jeopardy for Kwankwaso’s Group for the third time in a row because INEC as a neutral and unbiased Commission by it’s tradition may decide not to participate in any NNPP’s factional Congress/Convention until all litigations, most especially on congresses and convention are put to rest.
This is as the National Secretary of NNPP; Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday confided in our correspondent that INEC has declined participation in Kwankwaso’s group proposed congress/convention in the last two weeks due to encumbrance from court cases. It’s however, obvious that INEC will likely excuse itself from internal crisis of NNPP in view of its neutrality pending when the matter in court Hon. Justice Obiora Egwuatu is determined.
Meanwhile, recognising the fact that the internal leadership crisis in NNPP may eventually create a vacuum, a group known as Nigerian Youth for New Nigeria in a communiqué made available to our correspondent this weekend called on The Founder of NNPP, Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam who by the constitution of the party is the life member of the Board of Trustees to take over the leadership and administration of the party to forestall any unforeseen and avoidable breach of peace.
The NY4NN made it clear that the Board of Trustees in time of internal crisis and wrangling should live above board and ensure that everything possible is done to salvage the party from total collapse.