NNPP factional chair defends Lagos convention, says Kwankwaso’s expulsion stands

Agbo Major, the factional national chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), says the party’s recent convention in Lagos was legal and legitimate.

On Tuesday, Major was elected as the national chairman of the NNPP at a convention, which took place at the RockView Hotel in Apapa, Lagos state.

The convention was reportedly attended by delegates and officers of the party at national and state levels.

However, prominent party figures, including Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano state, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, ex-presidential candidate of the NNPP, were absent at the convention.

Reacting to the development, Ajuji Ahmed, another factional national chairman, said the convention that produced a new national working committee (NWC) for the party is “illegal”, adding that the NNPP remains under his leadership.

But apeaking at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, Major said the convention provided the opportunity to ratify some of the decisions taken by the party, including the expulsion of the Kwankwassiya group.

He said the convention also ratified the expulsion of Kwankwaso and rejected the purported new logo of the party.

“The recent judgement of the Abia High Court dated 1st November 2024 unequivocally compelled INEC to hand our party to its board of trustees led by Dr Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam pending the resolution of all issues in courts,” Major said.

“You also recall that the same judgement mandated the BOT to activate all other organs of the party as contained in the party’s constitution (2022 as amended) to enable it to run seamlessly.

“In total compliance with this court judgement, all necessary correspondences were made with INEC and on the 13th of January 2024, the congresses commenced with Wards nationwide. It continued days after with the local government and states as well as the zones.

“However, the national convention which was to be held on 22nd January 2025, was temporarily halted due to an interim order of an FCT High Court.

“It was, however, concluded on the 4th of February 2025 at the Rockview Hotel in Apapa Lagos after the lifespan of the interim order elapsed.”