Aggrieved State chairmen of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) have condemned the alleged subterranean moves by the party’s former Presidential candidate, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso to hijack the party machinery from its founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam.
Briefing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, Comrade Olayinka Dada, the Ekiti State Chairman of the party accused the members of NWC of making themselves free tools in the hands of Kwakwanso to sabotage the collective interest of the party.
He hinted that the NNPP leaders from 10 States have passed a no confidence vote on the members of the Abba Kawu-led National Working Committee (NWC) for allegedly working in cahoots with Kwankwaso to carry out their sinister plan.
He expressed dismay over what he called the desperation of Kwankwaso in destroying the political party which once gave him and his foot-soldiers fortress in the last poll, declaring that they have rejected the NWC leadership because they had failed in managing the party’s affairs well.
Dada, who doubles as the spokesman, Forum of NNDP State chairmen, said the party became suspicious when Kwankwaso hurriedly held secret meeting with the then All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, and winner of the poll, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in France, days after the poll, even when other serious political parties were collating evidences of electoral malfeasance to challenge the results as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, Kwankwaso’s singular action, coupled with other inequities noticed before, during and after the Presidential poll, confirmed that he (Kwankwaso) sold out.
The state chairmen include that of Ekiti, Enugu, Rivers, Zamfara, Kastina, Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, Kastina, Kaduna, Niger, among others.
Dada noted that the dismal performance of the party during the general election was a product of internal sabotage, selfishness, greed and insincerity of Kwankwaso and some undemocratic elements within the party.
He equally dismissed the suspension of the seven state chairmen and dissolution by the entire leadership of the party from the ward to the state levels by the NWC, describing it as outright illegality that can’t stand.
“The NNPP has been enmeshed in intra-party crisis due to the sheer illegality and unconstitutional decisions taken by the NWC of our party.
“I would like to inform the world that this crisis was orchestrated by Kwankwaso to hijack structures of the party after he was challenged about his anti-party activities.
“These anti-party activities stemmed from the unholy romance with Tinubu. This romance largely affected the performance of the party during the general election.
“Today, it is obvious that the tenant has now turned out to chase the landlord but the state chairmen have resolved never to allow the tenant to occupy our own house. We are not unaware of the plot to impose an illegal caretaker panel across the 10 States.
“We will not allow anybody to trade with the collective sweat of the members of the party for selfish interest. We promise to defend the integrity of the party with every legitimate means,” he said.
Dada insisted that the executives in the seven states still constitutionally stand and would continue to carry out their legal duties in line with the operational party’s legal framework.
He argued that the purported dissolution was brazen disregard for the constitution of the party, adding that the NWC does not have the power to dissolve executives because it (NWC) was a product of illegality.
He called on party supporters to remain committed and not be deterred by ‘devious antics’ of some alleged undemocratic elements to cause chaos and consequently seize control of the party.
