NNPP backs el-Rufai’s comment on party crisis, says faction full of impostors

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has distanced itself from a statement faulting Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, for attributing the party’s crisis to the federal government.

BACKGROUND

In a viral video on social media, el-Rufai, while addressing some leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled federal government is responsible for the crisis in the opposition parties.

El-Rufai said the expulsion of Rabiu Kwankwaso, NNPP presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, by a faction was “contrived” to plunge the party into a crisis.

On Wednesday, Oginni Olaposi, the NNPP factional national secretary, said el-Rufai does not understand the root causes of the party’s crisis.

Olaposi asked the former governor of Kaduna to retract his remark and tender an “unreserved apology” to the national leadership of the party over the comment.

‘OLAPOSI NOT NNPP MEMBER’

However, in a statement issued on Thursday, Ladipo Johnson, NNPP spokesperson, described Olaposi as an “impostor” with no authority to speak on behalf of the party.

Johnson backed el-Rufai’s claim that the federal government was fueling the internal crisis within NNPP.

“Oginni and his cohort are NOT members of the party and do not constitute a faction in fact or Law. They have no authority to speak on behalf of the NNPP,” the statement reads.

“It is true that the former Kaduna governor, el-Rufai is stating the obvious going by the antecedents of these impostors.

“During the Tribunal case involving Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, these renegades publicly supported the APC and similarly did so during the Emirship tussle and the Local government election.

“Having supported the position of the APC as against that of our party NNPP, and at times going out of their way to issue press statements in this regard, anyone in his or her right senses would naturally be of the opinion that these people are not members of the NNPP.

“BUT of course, they are not our members and the public, particularly the press, should see them as such by cross-checking our factual position here with INEC.

“We do agree though that the public perception that they are acting out the script of their paymasters is logical and seems convincing.

“So, to that extent and indeed going by the latest spurious claims by one faceless Oginni Sunday, there’s a sense in el-Rufai’s assertions that some evil hands are behind the nefarious activities of these impostors.”

Johnson said Oginni’s expulsion, like others, followed due process and had been upheld by court rulings, adding that they have no legitimate ties to NNPP.