The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has declared its full support for any political decision Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State may take amid the ongoing face-off between him and the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Chairman, Dr Agbo Major, the NNPP said Yusuf, as its only serving governor and recognised leader in Kano State, deserves the party’s backing to enable him to deliver good governance.
Major said that while Kwankwaso played a role in Yusuf’s emergence as governor, that should not translate into undue interference or distractions driven by personal political interests.
“Kwankwaso may have been instrumental in nominating Yusuf to power, but as governor, he must be allowed to excel rather than be distracted by unnecessary politics of personal interest,” the statement said.
He described Kano State as strategically important to the NNPP, especially ahead of the 2027 general elections, adding that the party would not allow Kwankwaso or the Kwankwasiya Movement to undermine its political gains in the state.
According to Major, Kwankwaso, who was the NNPP’s presidential candidate in 2023, was later expelled from the party for anti-party activities, stressing that his personal relationship with the governor should not affect governance or influence Yusuf’s political choices.
“The NNPP finds it unbelievable that the same Kwankwaso who betrayed its founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, is now lamenting alleged betrayal of trust by the Kano governor,” he said.
Major further accused Kwankwaso of attempting to hijack the party after the 2023 elections, noting that the Memorandum of Understanding between the NNPP and the Kwankwasiya Movement had already expired.
He said, “It was the various litigations instituted by Kwankwaso that led to the mass defection of our members in Kano State to other political parties.
“We will not sit and watch Kwankwaso continue to pull down the Kano governor through utterances and blackmail.”
Drawing a comparison with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Major advised Kwankwaso to emulate the party’s approach of allowing President Bola Tinubu to govern without undue interference.
He added that Kwankwaso’s resort to litigation within the NNPP weakened his influence and followership in Kano State and the Kwankwasiya Movement.
According to the NNPP chairman, the party lost electoral ground and failed to participate in some elections due to what he described as Kwankwaso’s actions.
“Under the circumstances, it is apparent that the desire of the executive governor of Kano State to decamp to the APC is reasonable and responsible,” Major said.
However, he stressed that the official position of the party is for Yusuf to remain in the NNPP and assume full leadership responsibility to reposition and strengthen the party.
“Our position is that Governor Yusuf should not leave the NNPP but should take responsibility as the leader of our great party and propel it to greater opportunities,” he added.
