New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop “sitting on the fence,” insisting that the electoral body must immediately disown what it described as illegal congresses allegedly planned by the Kwankwasiyya faction led by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
In a statement on Monday, the NNPP’s National Secretary, Ogini Olaposi, said Nigerians and INEC should disregard the “purported congresses,” stressing that the party had already concluded its court-ordered internal exercises.
This comes after the Kwankwaso-led group notified INEC of its intention to conduct fresh congresses and a national convention from November 25 through January 2026. But the NNPP says that move has no legal backing.
According to Olaposi, the Memorandum of Association signed with the Kwankwasiyya group ahead of the 2023 presidential poll had “long expired,” and therefore could not serve as a basis for any fresh congresses. He reminded the public that Kwankwaso—NNPP’s 2023 presidential flagbearer—and several of his loyalists “remained expelled” for alleged anti-party activities.
“We are still amazed that a man of Kwankwaso’s standing will insist on hijacking a party that gave him soft landing to contest the 2023 presidential election for free,” he said.
The party maintained that both the Abia State High Court and the FCT High Court had affirmed the expulsion of Kwankwaso and his allies from all NNPP internal activities and disciplinary structures.
“It is most unfortunate that Kwankwaso can be found conducting himself in a most disrespectful manner to disobey and abuse court judgments,” the statement added.
The NNPP did not spare INEC, accusing the commission of ignoring repeated letters demanding that it upload the party’s authentic leadership in line with court directives.
“INEC past leadership failed us and we are hoping that the present leadership shall distance itself from disobedience to rule of law and order of the society,” Olaposi said. “As an umpire, INEC cannot afford to continue to sit on the fence on matters of urgent importance and peace of the society.”
The party warned that INEC’s alleged inaction was emboldening groups “who want to cause crisis in our democracy.” Despite this, the NNPP urged its members nationwide to remain calm and dismiss any invitation to the “fake congresses and convention.”
“Once again, we appeal to INEC to help democracy succeed and sustain in Nigeria. The Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration can only succeed if laws are obeyed and respected,” the statement concluded.
