The Kwankwasiyya faction of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) clashed with another faction led by Major Agbo on Tuesday following the alleged six-month suspension of Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf.
The suspension, announced by factional National Secretary Ogini Olaposi in Abuja, was due to Yusuf’s failure to attend a disciplinary committee hearing concerning an infraction against the party’s constitution.
At a press conference, Olaposi explained that the Board of Trustees suspended Yusuf to protect the party’s interests, questioning his presence at an ‘illegal national convention’ held by the Kwankwasiyya group on April 6.
He said, “We called this media conference to brief you on developments resulting from the recent invitation to Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano to appear before a disciplinary committee to explain infractions on the party constitution.
“Nigerians need to know the position of the New Nigeria People’s Party following the failure of the governor to appear before the Disciplinary Committee to explain the reason(s) His Excellency, who was elected on the party’s platform and a national figure of NNPP participated in an illegal/ factional national convention of NNPP held by the Kwankwasiya group at Wuse 2 in Abuja on Saturday, 6th April.
“The leadership of the NNPP to strengthen our internal disciplinary and democratic measures, most especially in the area of party supremacy without prejudice, is left with no other options than to decisively take necessary action according to the letters of NNPP Constitution 2022 as amended.
“With the approval of the Board of Trustees of New Nigeria Peoples Party and the unanimous decision of the National Working Committee of our great Party, His Excellency, Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State is hereby suspended for six months with immediate effect.
In a phone conversation, Dipo Olayoku, the National Secretary of the Kwankwasiyya faction of the NNPP, dismissed the purported suspension as a joke, claiming they had already been expelled from the party.
“Gov Abba Yusuf was suspended in what capacity? These people are not members of the NNPP. They only want to make news. We don’t know them because they are not members of our party. After all, they have all been suspended, and there is a court order banning them from parading themselves as party members.
“So, how can non-members of NNPP suspend a governor? They are just clowns having fun because you can only suspend someone if you have a party. They don’t have a party and INEC has a record of members of the party. They are just out there making people laugh,” he stated.