Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the party’s presidential candidate, has been dismissed by a group of the New Nigeria Peoples Party led by Major Agbo because of his alleged anti-party conduct and theft of party campaign funds.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq, the NNPP factional National Publicity Secretary, declared Kwankwaso’s expulsion.
The incident occurs just three days after the factional leaders promised to look into the former Kano governor and some of his supporters about the alleged embezzlement of more than N1 billion from the sale of nomination forms.
Kwankwaso was accused of engaging in “gross anti-party activities and mismanagement of party campaign funds,” according to Abdulrasaq, and his failure to appear before the disciplinary panel to explain himself led to the decision to expel him with immediate effect.
However, the spokesman emphasized that his expulsion was carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the party constitution as modified in 2022.
He said, “The NEC met in an emergency session on Friday, September 1 and resolved that following the refusal of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to appear before the disciplinary committee which sat on Thursday, August 31, after being duly invited in writing, he is hereby expelled from NNPP with immediate effect.
“That the erstwhile presidential candidate, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso will be reported to appropriate quarters to answer questions on financial impropriety relating to mismanagement of public funds.”
Reacting, an ally of Kwankwaso and National Auditor of NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, frowned at the report, saying Agbo’s faction does not have the locus standi to dismiss the former governor.
“Expel who? These people are no longer our people. They are out of the party and cannot speak on behalf of the party. Let them form their own party or go to court. It is as simple as that. There are so many important things to worry about in this country.
“How can they expel Kwankwaso? Someone whose relationship with the National Working Committee is intact here at the national headquarters in Abuja? We will soon be having a press conference to address this matter,” he said.
