The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) strongly denounced former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, for saying that the Bola Tinubu federal government was accountable for the present internal crisis facing the party.
In a statement on Wednesday, the NNPP factional National Secretary, Oginni Olaposi, dismissed El-Rufai’s claims as baseless, insisting that the former governor lacked a proper understanding of the issues that led to the party’s division.
The row came after a viral video where El-Rufai, in his speech to leaders of his new party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration of deliberately fueling crises among opposition parties, including the NNPP. He categorically referred to the sacking of NNPP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as a “contrived” move intended to cripple the party.
NNPP to El-Rufai: Retract Your Statement or Face Legal Action
In his reaction, the NNPP factional leadership issued a 48-hour ultimatum to El-Rufai to retract his statement and offer an unreserved apology to the party’s national leadership as well as its founder, Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam.
“To put the records straight and enlighten Mallam Nasir El-Rufai on the true cause of the crisis that led to the expulsion of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, we challenge him to ask the following pertinent questions from his friend before making baseless allegations,” the statement said.
The NNPP enumerated the following questions, intended to invalidate the allegations made by El-Rufai, among others:
- Did the federal government force Kwankwaso to beg Dr. Boniface Aniebonam for the NNPP platform in 2022?
- Did the federal government instruct Kwankwaso to insult the founder of the party?
- Did the federal government instruct Kwankwaso to sue the NNPP leadership at the Kano State High Court?
- Did the federal government stop Kwankwaso and Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf from testifying before the party’s disciplinary committee?
The party invited El-Rufai to seek clarification from Kwankwaso before accusing the federal government of interference in NNPP affairs.
Legal Threat Hangs Over Their Heads
The NNPP faction threatened that not apologising within 48 hours would result in legal action against El-Rufai for defamation. We are calling Mallam El-Rufai to come out publicly and apologize to Dr. Boniface Aniebonam and NNPP leadership for his reckless statement,” Olaposi stated. “If he fails to do so within 48 hours, we will take him to court for defamation of our party leadership.”
NNPP’s Leadership Crisis
The NNPP has been under an internal leadership crisis ever since the 2023 general elections, creating two factions. In September 2023, Agbo Major-led faction suspended and then expelled Rabiu Kwankwaso on claims of involvement in anti-party activities and improper management of party funds. However, a faction owing allegiance to Kwankwaso eventually dropped the expulsion, further worsening the crisis in the party.
With the NNPP still grappling with internal divisions, El-Rufai’s claims of government interference have only escalated tensions, setting the stage for further political drama.
