The New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP) has inaugurated its newly elected National Working Committee (NWC) and party executives, ending the long-drawn brazen attempt by some members to snatch the party from its founder and leadership.
Led by the National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Gilbert Major, and National Secretary, Oginni Olaposi, among other 20 officers, the new NWC took oath of office early Wednesday during the party’s 54th National Convention, which held in Lagos from 9pm on Tuesday till 3:30am on Wednesday.
Addressing the convention, the Founder of NNPP, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, told the new executives that their “new roles mean more challenges,” especially with enemies all around them. However, he assured them of the support of the entire party.
And, ahead of the 2027 general election, Aniebonam, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), announced an automatic return ticket for all NNPP lawmakers in the Senate, House of Representatives and Houses of Assembly who remain committed to the cause of the party. He explained that this will motivate them to remain focused on building the party.
Meanwhile, Aniebonam said at the convention that the running battle with their 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, was an eye opener.
Kwankwaso, who was said to have approached Aniebonam for a platform to contest the 2023 presidential election, had worked to take over the party. In the process, he claimed to have expelled the founder and BoT chairman, an exercise Aniebonam said was unconstitutional.
According to Aniebonam, “with the heart and innocence of a child, we offered him our platform to run for president the first time in his life. Rather than appreciate what we did, he came for our heads.”
Kwankwaso and his group would later lose the struggle when the Abia State High Court compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hand over the party’s administration to the BoT, in line with the NNPP Constitution 2022 (as amended).
Reflecting on all that transpired since the issue began, Aniebonam said that Kwankwaso was “the tonic the NNPP members needed to sit up.” However, he said they have forgiven him, adding that “anyone who knows Kwankwaso should tell him enough of this nonsense.”
Going forward, he cautioned the faithful not to take the laws into their hands, but rather “fear the rule of law and obey it, and you would have nothing to fear.”
On his part, the NNPP BoT Secretary, Mohammed Babayo, said the convention was a testament to the party faithful’s “resilience, unity and unwavering commitment to democratic values and the aspirations of millions of Nigerians.”
