Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, the founder of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, called Friday’s Appeal Court ruling that dismissed Abba Yusuf as governor of Kano State a “rude shock.”
Aniebonam maintained that the NNPP, not the courts, is the only body that may choose its members in response to the court decision that declared Yusuf’s election victory to be illegitimate.
He said, “I do know that it is only the NNPP and its members that can determine who is a member of the party,” he said in a statement on Saturday.
“I also know that a party and its members can bring into the party, and grant such a person a waiver to go into election and represent the party in an election.
“I also know and believe that it is only someone who contested nomination under NNPP that can challenge the membership of the party in an election.
“To the contrary, no other person has the right to raise objection.”
According to the NNPP founder, any candidate might be sponsored by the party by being granted permission to run for office on its platform.
Aniebonam insisted that only competitor candidates who ran for the nomination had the authority to oppose a candidate’s NNPP membership.
The NNPP leader urged party members and Kano residents to maintain faith in the face of the legal challenge, even as he hoped that justice would ultimately be served before the Supreme Court.
“Our hope is alive ahead the Supreme Court judgment in due time.
“I hereby encourage all members of our great party and indeed the indigenes of Kano in particular to keep faith with the final decision of God under this avoidable circumstances,” he said.
On Friday, the Appeal Court upheld an earlier ruling that nullified Yusuf’s victory on the grounds that he was not an NNPP member when the election occurred.
It consequently declared the APC’s Nasiru Gawuna as the duly elected governor.
Yusuf, who assumed office in May after a run-off poll victory, now faces an uncertain future following his latest court setback. The NNPP is expected to appeal the judgment at the Supreme Court.
NAN
