The leadership crisis within the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has taken a new turn as a faction, aligned with Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, moves to amend the party’s constitution and logo, in a bid to allegedly weaken the grip of the party founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam.
The decision to amend the party’s constitution was confirmed during an exclusive interview with the National Auditor of NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, as reported by The Punch.
This development comes on the heels of the expulsion of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of NNPP, by a faction of the party led by Major Agbo over alleged anti-party activities and misappropriation of campaign funds.
Announcing Kwankwaso’s expulsion in a statement released on Tuesday, the NNPP’s factional National Publicity Secretary, Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq, said the decision was taken after he failed to appear before the disciplinary panel to defend himself over the allegations levelled against him.
The expulsion of the former Kano governor caused disaffection within the party and saw chieftains from opposition camps trading blame.
Kwankwaso’s expulsion led to discord within the party and accusations from various quarters. Subsequently, there were speculations that the Kwankwaso faction was making moves to amend the party’s logo and constitution, aiming to weaken the influence of Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, the founder of NNPP.
Although the development was confirmed by Johnson who was the chairman of the disciplinary committee that expelled some factional members of the party a few weeks ago, the national auditor, however, denied the move was a response to the emergence of a faction within the NNPP.
“No, it has nothing to do with any faction. It was something we already discussed at the NEC. Unlike them (Agbo faction), we are serious people. But we haven’t changed the logo yet. We are planning to throw it out there for our members to compete and come up with ideas,” he said.
Reacting, acting National Chairman of the faction, Major Agbo, told our correspondent that they were aware of the subtle move which they believed was directed at removing the immunity of the founder.
He said, “Obviously, the proposed amendment to the constitution and changing of logo they are talking about was deliberate. That was because they discovered suddenly that the man they are after (the founder) has immunity by the provision of that constitution. That’s why they are in a hurry to amend it.”
