Kwankwaso camp kicks as court docket dismisses swimsuit difficult NNPP management

The management tussle within the New Nigeria Peoples Party took a brand new activate Thursday after a Excessive Courtroom sitting within the Federal Capital Territory dismissed a swimsuit filed by a faction loyal to Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, which sought to problem the legitimacy of the celebration’s present management below its founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam and Nationwide Chairman, Dr Agbo Main.

The case, filed by Ahmed Ajuji and 20 others, aimed to invalidate the authority of the NNPP’s Board of Trustees and its government management, together with NNPP factional Nationwide Secretary, Oginni Olaposi; Deputy Nationwide Chairman, Chief Felix Chukwurah; and authorized practitioner, Tony Obioha.

The claimants had requested the court docket to restrain these officers from convening conferences, conducting congresses, or presiding over the celebration’s nationwide conference, arguing that that they had been expelled from the NNPP.

Nevertheless, Justice M.A. Hassan dominated that the court docket lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the swimsuit, affirming that inner celebration disputes—resembling management and membership points—are past judicial intervention.

“The place of the legislation, as upheld by the Courtroom of Appeal and the Supreme Courtroom, is evident: courts don’t adjudicate on issues that fall inside the inner affairs of a political celebration, besides in circumstances referring to the nomination of candidates for elections,” Justice Hassan said.

With the decision, the court docket successfully dismissed all reliefs sought by the claimants, thereby affirming that the Agbo Main-led NNPP management stays the reliable authority overseeing the celebration’s affairs.

Thursday’s ruling strengthened an earlier determination by the Abia State Excessive Courtroom (Go well with No.: HUZ/11/2024), delivered on November 1, 2024, which reinstated the NNPP’s Board of Trustees, led by Dr Boniface Aniebonam.

That judgment additionally upheld the legitimacy of the celebration’s congresses and Nationwide Conference, which noticed the election of the present management.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, counsel for the defendants, Segun Fiki, welcomed the ruling, noting that the case was an try and usurp the management of the celebration via the again door.

Fiki emphasised that the court docket’s determination affirms the rightful administration of the NNPP below Main and Aniebonam.

“The court docket has spoken clearly—this matter is non-justiciable. The reliable management of the NNPP has been affirmed, and we now anticipate the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee to formally recognise and cooperate with the celebration’s duly elected officers,” he mentioned.

Reacting, the camp of the Kwankwasiyyan motion berated Main and Aniebonam for making an attempt to deceive the general public.

In a telephone interview with The PidomNigeria, the factional Nationwide Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, mentioned the ruling was misinterpreted and twisted by the founder and his executives.

He mentioned, “We are going to quickly launch a press release on it. First, the swimsuit wasn’t about Main or Aniebonam or no matter. It was about some individuals going about utilizing the title of our celebration.

“However the choose, wrongfully I consider, mentioned that it’s an inner affair of the celebration. So if somebody says I’ve no jurisdiction, does it imply the identical factor as affirming Main? They’re simply making an attempt to spin it.”